Premier Zhu Pledges to Boost Sino-Arab Ties

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, April 22, 2002

Premier Zhu Pledges to Boost Sino-Arab Ties

Visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji stressed on Sunday that China is willing to further promote Sino- Arab cooperation in years ahead.

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Visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji stressed on Sunday that China is willing to further promote Sino- Arab cooperation in the years ahead.

While meeting with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa at the headquarters of the Arab League in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, Zhu said that one of the purposes of his ongoing visit to Egypt is to boost Sino-Arab relations.

China attaches great importance to its ties with the Arab League, the Chinese premier said, pointing to an important role by the pan-Arab forum in strengthening unity and cooperation among Arab countries and safeguarding world peace and stability.

Developing friendship and cooperation between China and the Arab League and Arab countries is China's set foreign policy, he said, adding that China has maintained contact and conducted sound cooperation with the Arab League and its member states on bilateral and international issues over the past years.

Recalling a proposal raised by the Arab League foreign ministers council on establishing the Arab-Chinese cooperation forum in 2000, Zhu said, China supports the idea and is ready to set up such a forum between the two sides in a step-by-step manner.

He expressed hope that Sino-Arab cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, culture, science and technology will be further promoted in the future.

Arab places great importance on ties with China

For his part, Moussa hailed efforts made by Chinese leaders to boost Sino-Arab ties, saying that the Arab League places great importance on developing its ties with China, and is pleased to see that bilateral cooperation has been even closer against the backdrop of the current tension in the Mideast region.

In addition, the two sides have been implementing agreements and consensus, said Moussa, who expressed hope that Arab-Chinese cooperation in a variety of areas will develop further in coming years.

Middle East issue ? common concern

On the Mideast issue, Zhu said that under the prerequisite of Israel's withdrawal from the Palestinian-controlled areas, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be solved eventually based on relevant U.N. resolutions and under the land-for-peace principle.

China appreciates an Arab peace plan adopted at the Beirut Arab summit, the Chinese premier stressed.

In return, Moussa said that peace serves as a precondition for development in the region, and will benefit all countries in the region, noting the Arab League hopes that the U.N. Security Council will play an even greater role on the Mideast issue.

Arab League

The Arab League was founded in Cairo in 1945 by Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Transjordan (Jordan, as of 1950), and Yemen. Countries that later joined are: Algeria (1962), Bahrain (1971), Comoros (1993), Djibouti (1977), Kuwait (1961), Libya (1953), Mauritania (1973), Morocco (1958), Oman (1971), Qatar (1971), Somalia (1974), Southern Yemen (1967), Sudan (1956), Tunisia (1958), and the United Arab Emirates (1971).

The Palestine Liberation Organization was admitted in 1976. Egypt's membership was suspended in 1979 after it signed a peace treaty with Israel; the league's headquarters was moved from Cairo, Egypt, to Tunis, Tunisia. In 1987 Arab leaders decided to renew diplomatic ties with Egypt. Egypt was readmitted to the league in 1989 and the league's headquarters was moved back to Cairo.

The Arab League is involved in political, economic, cultural, and social programs designed to promote the interests of member states. The Arab League has served as a forum for member states to coordinate their policy positions and deliberate on matters of common concern, settling some Arab disputes and limiting conflicts. >>details

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