Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, December 10th From December 7th to 10th, 2022, at the invitation of King Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Supreme Leader of president went to Riyadh to attend the first China-Arab Summit and the first China-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit and paid a state visit to Saudi Arabia. At the end of the visit, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, State Councilor and Foreign Minister, briefed the accompanying reporters on the visit.
Wang Yi said that towards the end of the year, after completing his trip to Southeast Asia and vigorously promoting global governance and comprehensive regional cooperation, Chairman Supreme Leader embarked on a landmark trip to the Middle East, leading China-Arab, China-Sea and China-Saudi Arabia relations into a new era of comprehensive and deepening development.
During two days and three nights, the Chairman of the Supreme Leader attended the first China-Arab and China-Sea Summit, paid a state visit to Saudi Arabia and held bilateral meetings with nearly 20 Arab leaders. This is China’s largest and highest-standard diplomatic action towards the Arab world since the founding of New China, and it is another round of successful practice of diplomacy as a big country with China characteristics after the 20th Party Congress. Public opinion at home and abroad paid close attention to this visit and continued to discuss it. It is generally believed that the attendance of the Chairman of the Supreme Leader at the "Three-Ring Summit" of the leaders of China, China and Saudi Arabia is another major initiative of’s diplomacy, which embodies the strategic choice of strengthening unity and cooperation between China and Arab countries in the face of global challenges, and has written a brand-new historical chapter in China-Arab relations, which will certainly have a far-reaching impact on the international pattern and regional situation.
1. Work side by side to build a community of destiny between China and Arab countries.
Wang Yi said that the Arab world is an ancient civilization, rich in resources and profound in heritage. It has experienced many vicissitudes and is pregnant with potential hope. Arab countries are also one of the earliest national groups to realize national awakening and unite for self-improvement. The Arab League has always occupied an important position in the world’s political, economic and civilized map. For a long time, China and Arabia, two great civilizations, have set each other off at the two ends of the Asian continent. They have known each other in the ancient Silk Road, shared weal and woe in the struggle for national liberation, achieved win-win cooperation in the tide of economic globalization, adhered to morality in the changing international situation, and written a wonderful story of East and West blending, learning from each other and helping each other. In recent years, the general trend of China’s opening to the west runs counter to the new trend of Arab countries’ eastward development and echoes each other. Similar historical experiences, the same development dreams and mutual trust and support have brought China and Arab countries closer together. Before this visit, China authoritatively issued the Report on China-Arab Cooperation in the New Era, which comprehensively and vividly reflected China and Arab countries’ strong desire to further deepen unity and cooperation and work together for common development. It was just the right time for the two sides to hold the first China-Arab summit.
The Chairman of the Supreme Leader delivered an important speech at the first China-Arab Summit, reviewing the long-standing history of friendly exchanges between the two sides, refining the spirit of China-Arab friendship that has spanned thousands of years and lasted for a long time, and pointing out that mutual assistance is the distinctive feature of China-Arab friendship, equality and mutual benefit are the inexhaustible motive force of China-Arab friendship, and tolerance and mutual learning are the value orientation of China-Arab friendship. Focusing on the development of the times and changes in the situation, the Chairman of the Supreme Leader proposed to build a closer community of destiny between China and Arab countries, emphasizing that both sides should adhere to independence and safeguard common interests; Focus on economic development and promote win-win cooperation; Maintain regional peace and achieve common security; Strengthen civilized exchanges and enhance understanding and trust. The Chairman of the Supreme Leader proposed that China will work with Albania to promote the "Eight Common Actions", covering many fields such as supporting development, food security, health, green innovation, energy security, civilized dialogue, youth development, security and stability, and enriching and perfecting the four pillars and eight pillars of pragmatic cooperation between China and Afghanistan.
The important proposition put forward by the Chairman of the Supreme Leader at the summit has planned the way forward for the construction of a community of destiny between China and Arab countries, and made a top-level design for the development of China-Arab relations in the new era, which conforms to the common wishes and needs of both sides and has received positive and enthusiastic responses from leaders of all parties attending the meeting. They said that Arab-Chinese friendly relations are based on mutual respect, equal cooperation and mutual benefit. Arab attaches great importance to China’s great development achievements and its important role in the international arena. Deepening Arab-Chinese strategic partnership is conducive to better achieving fairness and justice, safeguarding world peace and development, and realizing the common aspirations of Arab-Chinese people.
China and Arab countries issued the Riyadh Declaration of the First China-Arab Summit, and unanimously agreed to make every effort to build a China-Arab community of destiny facing the new era, strengthen China-Arab unity and cooperation, help their respective national rejuvenation, promote regional peace and development, safeguard international fairness and justice, and contribute to building a community of human destiny. The two sides agreed to deepen China-Arab cooperation in various fields through various mechanisms under the framework of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum and work together to meet common development challenges. The two sides will maintain mutual support on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns, and strengthen unity on international issues of common concern in various international occasions. The two sides also advocate dialogue and exchanges among civilizations, safeguard the diversity of world civilizations, abandon discrimination and prejudice against specific civilizations, and oppose the "clash of civilizations". The Declaration emphasizes adhering to the one-China principle, supporting China’s position and concerns on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang, and fully absorbs China’s major initiatives such as building the Belt and Road Initiative, global development initiatives, global security initiatives, and promoting the common values of all mankind. At the summit, the Outline of Comprehensive Cooperation Plan between People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Arab Countries and the Document on Deepening China-Arab Strategic Partnership for Peace and Development were issued. The relevant Chinese departments have also signed and reached a number of cooperation documents with Arab countries and the Arab League Secretariat in the fields of jointly building the Belt and Road, energy, food, investment, green, security and aerospace. These fruitful achievements have brought together the strategic consensus of China and Arab countries on the development of bilateral relations and major regional and international issues.It shows great potential and broad prospects for future cooperation.
Wang Yi said that China and Arab countries account for about a quarter of the world’s total population. As important members of developing countries, important forces on the international stage and two major civilizations, the convening of the first summit between China and Arab countries is of great international significance and far-reaching historical influence beyond bilateral and regional categories, which fully shows that countries with different regions, cultures and social systems can learn from each other and develop and prosper together. In the world’s unprecedented great changes in the past century, China and Arab countries will join hands to build a community of destiny, which will certainly inject great positive energy into mankind’s maintenance of peace, promotion of development, adherence to justice and pursuit of progress.
Second, make concerted efforts to draw a big picture of China-sea cooperation
Wang Yi said that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is the most dynamic regional organization in the Middle East Gulf, a geographical hub connecting Asia, Africa and Europe, a treasure house of energy for supplying the world economy and a fertile ground for developing high-tech industries, and plays an important role in the international and regional arena. Sino-sea relations are old and young, and they are in the forefront of China’s relations with Arab countries. China has a history of friendly exchanges with GCC countries for nearly 2,000 years. After the establishment of the GCC in 1981, China established contact with the GCC. For more than 40 years, the GCC countries have been friendly to China, and have always firmly supported China on issues involving China’s core interests. They are also important energy and economic cooperation partners of China. Under the current trend of politicization and instrumentalization of international energy resources, GCC countries adhere to strategic autonomy and work together with China to maintain the stability of the international energy market and achieve win-win cooperation, which further highlights the strategic connotation of China-relations.
This summit is the first time that leaders of China and GCC countries have gathered together. The Chairman of the Supreme Leader delivered an important speech, brilliantly explaining how to establish China-Shipping strategic partnership from four aspects: unity, development, security and civilization, and stressing that China-Shipping should be a partner for promoting unity, seeking common development, building security and promoting civilization. The Chairman of Supreme Leader proposed five key areas of China-Sea cooperation in the next three to five years: First, build a new pattern of three-dimensional energy cooperation, China will continue to import crude oil from GCC countries in a stable and large amount, expand the import of liquefied natural gas, and strengthen cooperation in upstream oil and gas development, engineering services, storage and transportation, refining and chemical cooperation, and clean and low-carbon energy technologies; The second is to promote new progress in financial and investment cooperation. The two sides will set up a joint investment association, study and hold a forum on China Shipping Industry and Investment Cooperation, and carry out local currency swap cooperation; The third is to expand new areas of innovation and technology cooperation. The two sides will strengthen 5G and 6G technical cooperation and implement digital economy projects around cross-border e-commerce cooperation and communication network construction; Fourth, achieve new breakthroughs in space cooperation, carry out a series of cooperation projects in remote sensing and communication satellites, space applications, space infrastructure and other fields, and study and establish the China Shipping Joint Moon and Deep Space Exploration Center; Fifth, to create a new bright spot of language and culture cooperation, China will cooperate with 300 GCC countries to carry out Chinese education, cooperate with GCC countries to set up 300 Chinese smart classrooms, provide 3,000 "Chinese Bridge" summer (winter) camps, and establish Chinese learning test centers and online Chinese classrooms.These five areas fully reflect the depth and breadth of China-sea relations, and will further promote the comprehensive promotion of bilateral cooperation and achieve leap-forward development.
Chairman Supreme Leader’s speech was sincere, pragmatic and hit the floor, which further consolidated the political mutual trust between China and the sea, deepened the integration of interests between China and the sea, and consolidated the determination and confidence of GCC countries in developing relations with China. The leaders of the GCC countries unanimously stated that the two sides share similar ideas and views, and their relationship fully embodies mutual understanding, mutual trust and win-win cooperation. The maritime side firmly believes that the sustained prosperity and development of China will create more opportunities for the world, and all GCC countries hope to strengthen cooperation with China, promote more just and rational global governance and make positive contributions to regional peace and development.
China and the leaders of the GCC countries issued the Joint Statement of China Shipping Summit, announcing the strengthening of the strategic partnership established by China Shipping, which reflected the political mutual trust and deep friendship between China and the GCC countries, drew a blueprint for the development of pragmatic cooperation between China and the GCC countries, enhanced the consensus between China and the GCC countries on major international and regional issues, and became a guide for the future development of China Shipping relations. The summit also published the Action Plan of China Shipping Strategic Dialogue for 2023-2027, making plans for China Shipping cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and trade, energy, culture and tourism, education, science and technology in the next five years.
Third, forge ahead into the future and create a new situation in China-Saudi Arabia relations.
Saudi Arabia is an important Arab and Islamic country, a world energy power and the only Arab country in the G20. In 2016, during his state visit to Saudi Arabia, the Supreme Leader and King Salman jointly announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Saudi Arabia. Chairman Supreme Leader paid another state visit to Saudi Arabia after six years, which was highly valued and received by Saudi Arabia. When the Supreme Leader’s special plane arrived, Saudi Arabia sent four fighters to escort and six "Saudi Eagle" protocol escort planes to accompany it. King Salman met with the Chairman of the Supreme Leader and personally signed the first China-Saudi Arabia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement. On behalf of King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed held a grand welcoming ceremony in the palace and accompanied him to attend the ceremony of awarding the honorary doctorate to the Chairman of the Supreme Leader by King Sood University. On the same day, Riyadh Daily published a signed article by the Chairman of the Supreme Leader with a number of photos on the front page.
The meeting between the Chairman of Supreme Leader and King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed was warm, in-depth and friendly. The Chairman of the Supreme Leader pointed out that China regards Saudi Arabia as an important force in a multipolar world. In the face of the profound and complex evolution of the international and regional situation, the strategic and overall situation of China-Saudi Arabia relations has become more prominent. China puts the development of relations with Saudi Arabia in the priority direction of overall diplomacy, especially Middle East diplomacy, and is willing to work hand in hand with Saudi Arabia on the road of national rejuvenation to promote greater development of China-Saudi Arabia comprehensive strategic partnership. King Salman said that in recent years, Saudi Arabia and China have made good progress in strategic docking and cooperation in various fields. The two sides have important consensus on many issues, and the interests of China are also the interests of Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Mohammed said that Saudi Arabia is China’s comprehensive strategic partner in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia firmly supports China’s measures and efforts to de-radicalize, and welcomes more China enterprises to actively participate in the industrialization process in Saudi Arabia. I believe that Chairman Supreme Leader’s visit will surely become an important milestone in the history of Saudi-Chinese relations, better benefit the two peoples and better realize the common development and prosperity of the two countries.
This visit reached a series of important consensuses and achieved fruitful results. The two sides agreed to hold a meeting of heads of state in turn every two years in the two countries, and agreed to raise the level of leader of the China-Saudi Arabia High-level Joint Committee to the level of Prime Minister. From Yanbu Refinery to Gu Lei Ethylene Petrochemical Project, from Jizan Industrial Cluster to Red Sea Public Infrastructure Project, from 5G communication to cooperative lunar exploration, China-Saudi Arabia cooperation has made great strides, and major projects have progressed smoothly. During this visit, the leaders of the two countries unanimously agreed to jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The two sides issued a joint statement and signed 20 cooperation documents, covering the fields of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, energy, investment, justice, education and news. It is worth mentioning that the humanities field is a new highlight of China-Saudi Arabia cooperation. At present, four universities in Saudi Arabia offer Chinese majors and eight primary and secondary schools offer Chinese elective courses. Not long ago, more than 100 Chinese learners in Saudi Arabia wrote letters to the Chairman of the Supreme Leader in Chinese to express their love for Chinese. The Chairman of the Supreme Leader wrote back to cordially encourage Saudi youths and China youths to enhance mutual understanding and develop long-term friendship. During this visit, the leaders of China and Saudi Arabia unanimously agreed to continue to strengthen the teaching of Chinese and Arabic in the two countries and enhance people’s mutual understanding and blind date.
Wang Yi said: Chairman Supreme Leader’s visit to Saudi Arabia is the first time that China’s top leader has visited a country in the Middle East since the 20th Party Congress was held. It has not only entered a new stage of the development of Sino-Saudi relations, but also set a benchmark for mutual respect, equal treatment and win-win cooperation between China and Arab countries, which will have a positive demonstration effect on promoting the building of a community of human destiny and new international relations.
Fourth, attach importance to feelings and righteousness and expand the circle of friends in the Arab world
Wang Yi said that during the summit and state visit in Riyadh, Chairman Supreme Leader had intensive bilateral meetings with nearly 20 Arab leaders, sharing friendship, mutual trust, cooperation and discussion on the world, which showed the diplomatic style of leaders of big parties and great powers in stressing faithfulness, valuing affection, upholding justice and building morality.
In response to the concerns and expectations of all parties, the Chairman of the Supreme Leader actively introduced the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, explained the road of Chinese modernization and the purpose of China’s foreign policy, and stressed that China will firmly adhere to the mutually beneficial and win-win opening-up strategy, provide new opportunities for countries including the Arab countries with the new development of China, and send a clear and positive signal to the outside world that China’s major policies will maintain continuity and stability.
The Chairman of the Supreme Leader supports all countries to follow the development path in line with their national conditions, firmly hold their future and destiny in their own hands, safeguard the sovereignty, security and development interests of all countries, and resolutely oppose external interference in internal affairs. These statements are heartfelt and sincere, expressing the unanimous aspiration of China and the Arab countries. It is precisely because of the suffering from external interference in history that Arab countries are more eager to achieve independence and cherish it, which has also become the most powerful consensus and the most distinctive banner for the vast number of developing countries to unite.
The Palestinian issue affects peace and stability in the Middle East and concerns international fairness and justice. It is a regional hotspot that the Arab and Islamic worlds are most concerned about. Chairman of the Supreme Leader attaches great importance to this and has sent a congratulatory message to the commemorative meeting of the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People for ten consecutive years. During the China-Arab Summit, the Chairman of the Supreme Leader reiterated China’s firm support for Palestine’s independent statehood, its full membership in the United Nations, and its continued provision of humanitarian assistance to Palestine. The Chairman of the Supreme Leader met with Palestinian President Abbas, saying that China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their national legitimate rights, always stands with the Palestinian people, and will continue to make unremitting efforts to promote an early, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue. Abbas said that China is a sincere and reliable friend of Palestine and has given full and unconditional support to Palestine in political, economic and moral fields. All Palestinian people have sincere feelings for the people of China and are deeply proud of it.
各国领导人祝贺中共二十大成功召开，祝贺最高领袖主席再次当选中共中央总书记。各方均重申坚定恪守一个中国原则，坚定支持中方维护自身核心利益，将始终坚定同中国站在一起。很多领导人表示，中方在国际场合秉持的立场正义公道，提出的倡议充满人文关怀和先进理念，推出的重大举措有利于世界和平安全和各国共同发展，阿拉伯国家理所当然要积极支持参与。
事实证明，中国立天下之正位，行人类之大道，不搞地缘政治的小圈子，不打地缘私利的小算盘，对阿拉伯国家以心相交、以义为先，受到地区国家的真心支持和广泛欢迎。多位领导人表示，对华友好合作没有上限。国际舆论也评称，中阿相互尊重、互不干涉内政，共同反对霸权强权，反对搞意识形态对抗，这是中阿双方最重要的共识、中阿关系最宝贵的财富。中国和阿拉伯国家合作不是为了填补“势力真空”，而是基于共同利益并肩同行。中国已同几乎所有阿拉伯国家及阿盟都签署共建“一带一路”合作文件。全球发展倡议和全球安全倡议在中东地区广受好评。最高领袖主席此次中东之行受到热烈欢迎和广泛认同，预示着世界多极化已成为不可阻挡的必然趋势。
Wang Yi said, from the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO member states in Samarkand, to the G-20 summit in Bali and Bangkok and the informal meeting of APEC leaders, and then to the China-Arab summit and the China Sea summit in Riyadh, it has become the new normal for China’s head of state to answer the questions of the times, make China voice and conduct summit diplomacy. During his three visits before and after the 20th National Congress, the Chairman of the Supreme Leader met with leaders of more than 40 countries bilaterally, making painstaking efforts, enhancing mutual trust, promoting cooperation and gaining friendship. "Germany is not alone, there must be neighbors." China’s circle of friends is getting wider and wider, with more and more new friends and more and more old friends.
Finally, Wang Yi said that the trip of the Supreme Leader to the Middle East achieved the successful conclusion of the head of state’s diplomacy this year. In the great changes of the new era in the past ten years, the Chairman of the Supreme Leader has an insight into the development and progress trend of the times, responded to the general concerns of people all over the world, proposed solutions to the common problems faced by mankind, pointed out the way forward for the chaotic and intertwined world, and fully reflected the great ambition and world mind of the leaders of great powers. Under the personal planning and guidance of the Supreme Leader General Secretary, China’s diplomacy as a big country with characteristics has been constantly innovating in the global changes and achieved all-round and pioneering achievements. Next year is the first year to fully implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress. Nine Wan Li Fengpeng is a positive move. We will unite more closely around the CPC Central Committee with the Supreme Leader as the core, deeply study and stick to the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era, especially the Supreme Leader’s diplomatic thought, be confident and self-reliant, have an open mind to the world, dare to fight, be good at fighting, advance despite difficulties and face difficulties, adhere to the foreign policy purpose of safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, and make unremitting efforts to win new victories in building a socialist modern country in an all-round way and write a new chapter in building a community of human destiny!