More than 200 guests from China and Arab states participated in the forum, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

They agreed to jointly combat terrorism and extremism, and strengthen efforts to facilitate a free trade agreement between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The council is a political and economic union of six major oil exporters that border the Gulf — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Zhu Weilie, director of the Center for China-Arab States Cooperation Forum Studies and a professor at Shanghai International Studies University, said the Silk Road initiatives were an upgraded version of Chinese enterprises’ going-out strategy.

Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, who attended the forum, said Kuwait fully supports the Silk Road initiatives, and urged an acceleration of negotiations for a free trade agreement.

It will be a milestone in terms of developing the prospects of China-Arabian cooperation, he said.

Nabil el-Araby, secretary-general of the League of Arab States, said China is the only major country among the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council that has consistently supported the just cause of Arab states and helped developing nations.

China’s cooperation with Africa has proven that it has sincerity and enough credit to keep its promises, he said.

Yao Kuangyi, a researcher of Middle Eastern studies at the China Foundation for International Studies and a former Chinese ambassador to Turkey, said the forum has created a new model of cooperation for China and Arab states.

Last year, China imported $140 billion in commodities from Arab countries, with Chinese investment reaching $2.2 billion.

In the next three years, Beijing will train 6,000 people to work in Arab countries and have 10,000 artists visit each other in the coming decade.

Source: China Daily