TUNIS, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's congratulatory message on the opening of the Arab League (AL) summit reflects well the political will to deepen China-Arab cooperation, a senior official of the regional bloc said on Monday.

Kamal Hassen Ali, assistant secretary general of AL, lauded Xi's positive comments on the deep-rooted China-Arab traditional friendship.

"The congratulatory message from President Xi Jinping indicates the importance both sides attach to the China-Arab cooperation, and the aspiration of both sides to strengthen bilateral ties," he told Xinhua in an interview on the sidelines of the second China-Arab BDS Cooperation Forum held in Tunis.

BDS refers to the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System indigenously developed by China to provide global positioning and messaging services. China and Arab states are working to deepen their cooperation on boosting the BDS application in Arab countries.

Xi sent the message on Sunday to Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, the rotating AL president who presided over the 30th Arab League Summit held in the Tunisian capital of Tunis.

In his message, Xi praised the AL's efforts to promote peace, stability and development in the Middle East, and recalled the agreement between the two sides in last July to establish a future-oriented strategic partnership of comprehensive cooperation and common development, which was a new starting point for Sino-Arab cooperation.

"The China-Arab relations are based on solid ground, as was shown in the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. The cooperation and exchanges have been witnessed in many sectors, including energy, environment, transport, communication and satellite navigation. This demonstrates the political will of both sides to elevate and deepen bilateral cooperation," the AL official said.

"The China-Arab strategic partnership will further develop into a lasting stable relationship beyond time and space. We will definitely seek to enhance cooperation with China in building the Silk Road both in land and on the sea," he added.

On the future of China-Arab cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Ali said he was very optimistic.

Firstly, the Arab area boasts geographic importance, as it serves as a hub connecting China to Europe and Africa. Secondly, China and Arab states are deepening cooperation not only through increasing political and cultural exchanges, but also through building such projects as ports, renewable energy, power transmission, environmental protection and satellite navigation, Ali explained.

"I am very optimistic about the future cooperation between China and the Arab world under the BRI, as the cooperation will benefit both sides and even the rest of the world," he said.