In the past eight years alone, China-Arab relations have been at their "best stage of development" he says, with politics, economics, technology and other fields recording significant achievements－total trade volume between the two sides hit $240 billion last year, with Arab countries becoming China's sixth-largest trading partner.

The crucial fight against the pandemic has similarly demonstrated China's growing importance for the global community, Saphariny says.

"Amid the outbreak of COVID-19, the Chinese government has always put people's lives, safety and physical health first, and has resolutely adopted the most comprehensive, strict and thorough prevention and control measures.

"Solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons to defeat the epidemic. Countries should transcend the differences in regions, race, historical cultures, and even social systems, to join hands and build a community with a shared future for mankind, jointly maintaining the only planet on which we humans depend," he says.

To that effect, "China has formulated the most stringent and thorough prevention and control measures in dealing with COVID-19. At the same time, actively providing material assistance within its capacity to various countries, dispatching multiple medical expert teams, and enabling foreign countries to purchase pandemic prevention materials", he says.

"China's response to the pandemic and the effective measures it has taken reflect China's responsibility and the correctness of its system and governance. In the face of pandemics and other natural disasters, China will remain a beacon and model for mankind."

As the country pushes ahead on its development road, there will still be obstacles, such as the threat of unilateralism, politicization and hegemony from some in the West, that it will have to overcome, he says.

"The world today is not the world of yesterday. The world is moving toward peace and stability. With development, justice and fairness, there will be no room for hegemony and domination."