Achieving peace and security in the Arab region is fundamental to realising peace and security in the whole world, HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has said.
Delivering the opening speech at the Seventh Session of the Ministerial Meeting of China-Arab Co-operation Forum which began in the Doha Sheraton Hotel yesterday, the Foreign Minister said that the international community should shoulder its responsibility in finding a solution to the question of Palestine in accordance with international resolutions and Arab peace initiative. 
He praised China’s positions in support of Arab issues, including the Palestinian cause, hoping for continued support by China to Arab causes in order to reach the desired peace in Middle East within the framework of principles and provisions of international law, the United Nations Charter and the relevant Security Council resolutions that affirm the rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent State, with its capital in Jerusalem.  
The Foreign Minister stressed that the international community must redouble their efforts in addressing the Syrian crisis in order to reach a comprehensive solution that ends the suffering of Syrian people without foreign military interventions and in accordance with provisions of Geneva 1 and the relevant Security Council resolutions. 
He stressed the importance of solving conflicts through peaceful means, and not through the use of force and violence which only led to the rise of terrorism and extremism. 
HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said the China-Arab Co-operation Forum serves as a link in the communication between the two deeply rooted Arab and Chinese civilisations, pointing out that such a communication succeeded in reflecting a bright side of international relations. 
The Foreign Minister said: “In this sense we must intensify efforts and co-ordination in all issues of common interest to both sides, primarily development, climate, nuclear energy, dialogue among civilisations along with the reform and development of the United Nations”, noting that the Arab-Chinese relations have been enhanced to reach a strategic partnership level aimed at improving co-operation in various fields. 
He expressed satisfaction at the success that has been achieved in the implementation of the programme of the Forum 2014 -2016, as the two parties’ visions about its strategic goals and objectives have become clear and reflect their seriousness and keenness towards achieving a constructive co-operation. 
The joint will of the Arab countries and China to achieve a successful model of South-South co-operation makes this forum a strong platform to accelerate sustainable development at the national level of both sides through an integrative work, which keeps pace with the efforts aimed at promoting the human element; capacity building, transfer of expertise, technology and capital; increasing the volume of trade exchange and creating economic investment opportunities without losing sight of the cultural side, he said. 
The trade exchange volume between Arab countries and China in 2015 totalled $250bn, the Foreign Minister said. 
The interaction of peoples’ interests confirm the permanent conviction of the importance of co-operation between nations and groups to face economic challenges, he said, referring to the Arab countries’ support for the initiative of building Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road put forward by President Xi Jinping. 
HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani stressed the importance of continued co-ordination and consultation imperatively required in the context of the latest developments and challenges facing the world which call for further work to establish international relations according to a vision based on co-operation, solidarity and co-existence among all peoples. 
This stems from the firm conviction that everyone’s interest to achieve peace, stability and development can only be achieved through dialogue and durable and fair solutions to the issues of people in accordance with the decisions of international legitimacy, he added. 
Concluding his speech, HE the Foreign Minister said that the draft Doha declaration includes a range of items that showed a “unified visions towards our common interests”, adding that implementation programme for China-Arab Co-operation Forum for 2016-2018 has an ambitious plan to advance relations between the Arab countries and China. 
It also gives a real opportunity to build more joint strategies for co-operation in different political, economic, cultural and scientific fields.


‘China ready to build economic belt and Silk Road’


Chinese President Xi Jinping has confirmed that his country would be fully prepared to exert joint efforts with Arab states to build the new economic belt and Silk Road. 
The Chinese president explained in the speech, read on his behalf by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the opening session of the 7th Arab-Chinese Co-operation Forum, that in 2014 he initiated a Sino-Arab partnership and the establishment of the economic belt and Silk Road. 
He said the initiative found positive response from Arab states, confirming that he sensed enthusiasm from the Arab side for participation in the building the economic belt and the road when he visited the Arab League headquarters in January. 
The Chinese president said this round of the ministerial meeting will discuss in depth the Sino-Arab co-operation in the building of the belt and the road as well as the deepening of the strategic co-operation between the two sides and the comprehensive planning regarding areas and projects of priority to the collective Sino-Arab co-operation during the next two years. 
The Chinese president said this forum assumes great importance for consolidating co-operation, deepening cultural and humanitarian contacts and enhancing building mechanisms for the execution of the outcome of Doha Declaration.