With historic changes in the Middle East and Africa, China and Arab nations are working together to enhance the China-Arab States Cooperation forum, a dialogue mechanism that can bring greater benefits to all parties.

Addressing the opening session of the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum in Hammamet, Tunisia, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi explained China's constructive role in resolving conflicts in the Middle East and letting ordinary people benefit from China-Arab cooperation.

China respects and supports Arab countries to independently handle their domestic affairs and also respects the aspirations of Arab people to pursue their own reform and development, Yang said in a keynote speech, adding that profound changes are taking place in the Middle East.

He reiterated China's sincere wish that all relevant parties in the region should resolve their differences through political dialogue, and seek inclusive and peaceful solutions to properly manage reform, stability and development.

China calls on the international community and regional countries to respect the principles of the UN Charter and international laws. Yang urged relevant parties to play constructive roles, and relieve the tension that has long plagued the region.

Yang said the peace process in the Middle East has long been struck in stagnation, which puts the peace and stability of the region at a disadvantage.

China will persistently support the righteous cause of Arab nations, and support an independent Palestinian nation that has complete sovereignty with a capital in east Jerusalem.

China also supports Palestine to join the United Nations, and calls for Israel to release jailed Palestinians and improve the living and medical conditions for jailed Palestinians.

The foreign minister's remarks provided a comprehensive definition of China's stance on Middle East issues, and his position shows that China's major pursuit in regional affairs is to maximize the interests of Arabian countries, said Zhang Xiaodong, an expert on Middle East studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

In response to the changing circumstances in the Middle East, China has unswervingly based its policies on safeguarding regional stability, the long-term interests of Arab nations and friendly China-Arab relations, he said.

China attaches great importance to the concerns of Arab nations, and seeks common ground while reserving differences to maintain close communication and coordination with Arab friends on regional circumstances.

In his opening remarks to the conference, Tunisian interim President Moncef Marzouki expressed his gratitude on behalf of his nation to China's continuous support for Tunisia.

He said his country hopes to deepen cooperation with China, especially in tourism and investment, and that both sides can coordinate better to work out a new phase of cooperation.

In his speech, Yang pledged that China will fulfill its duties to work with Arab nations to realize a $300 billion bilateral trade goal by 2014.

The secretariat of the cooperation forum will invite 100 outstanding young people from Arab nations to visit China. And relevant Chinese departments will provide training to 5,000 Arab nations talents from 2012 to 2014.

China will also work to establish a new cooperation mechanism in the hygiene, quality inspection and industrial sectors.

Energy products account for a major portion of China-Arab trade, and there is growing demand for the countries to further diversify their exports to make the bilateral trade ties more sustainable, Zhang said.

Yang emphasized that ordinary people from both sides must share the boons and benefits of bilateral cooperation, and this is the ultimate goal of the cooperation forum's mechanism building.

The cooperation forum is expected to bring tangible benefits to ordinary people through cooperation projects in trade, energy, education, science, public health, agriculture, quality inspection, human resources, environment protection, tourism, news, culture and sports.

The two sides should also seek to change their norms of economic development with an active attitude, and endeavor to realize sustainable and inclusive growth, Yang said.

To achieve the goals of Millennium Development, China and Arab nations should carry forward reforms in international economic and financial systems, and join hands to build a prosperous and harmonious world.

Contact the writers at leixiaoxun@chinadaily.com.cn and zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/01/2012 page11)