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Chinese, Arab leaders to discuss new partnership

Palestine Authority Foreign Minister to attend the meeting

BEIJING: Leaders from China and Arab countries would discuss key cooperation projects and map out fields for future cooperation during a China-Arab summit in Beijing later this month, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The Second Ministerial Meeting of China-Arab Cooperation Forum is to be held in Beijing on May 31 and June 1.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and counterparts from 22 Arab countries or their representatives and the Arab League (AL) would attend the meeting, Zhai Jun, the director general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and African division, said on Wednesday.

``It will be the first time for the forum to hold its ministerial meeting in China since it was founded in 2004,'' said Mr. Zhai.

It was also for the first time for Foreign Ministers of all Arab countries to get together outside West Asia, he added.

He confirmed that Foreign Minister Mahmud al-Zahar of Palestine would also attend the meeting.

Mr. Li would co-host the meeting with Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose country holds the AL rotating presidency, and AL Secretary General Amr Moussa.

The meeting would focus on developing the new China-Arab partnership, said Mr. Zhai. Senior Chinese leaders would meet with the foreign delegations on the sidelines of the meeting.

Two documents would be signed at the end of the meeting including a communique and working plans for the next two years, Mr. Zhai said.

Energy cooperation constituted an important part of China-Arab cooperation, he acknowledged. — Xinhua

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