HM King participates in opening ceremony of 10th ministerial meeting of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum

TDT | Manama     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, participated in the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, as a part of His Majesty’s state visit to China.

The session was inaugurated by His Excellency Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China.

In his opening address, President Jinping welcomed Arab leaders participating in the forum and emphasised China’s commitment to further develop Chinese-Arab relations. 

HM King Hamad delivered a speech on the opening of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. 

Below is the text of the speech:

In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful.

Your Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China.

Your Excellencies and Highnesses,

May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you, 

We are pleased, Your Excellency the President, to participate in the opening session of the Arab-Chinese States Cooperation Forum.  We are thankful for your kind invitation, and we appreciate your efforts aimed at strengthening the historical relations between the Arab and Chinese civilisations, which deserve our appreciation and praise.

We affirm, in this regard, our support to the principle of One China, its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of this forum, coinciding with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s assumption of the presidency of the 33rd session of the Arab Summit, we congratulate all member states on the achievements accomplished within the framework of strengthening Arab-Chinese relations.  We commend the outcomes of summits, including the Arab-Chinese Summit, the China-GCC Summit, and the Bahraini-Chinese summit, that have resulted in strong cooperation and joint action plans, emphasising our collective commitment to increasing fruitful coordination at all levels.

Your Excellency, Distinguished Attendees, 

It is fortunate that this forum is held following the Bahrain Summit, which raised issues of top priority and resulted in important decisions and ambitious initiatives to meet the needs of the peoples of the region for providing educational and healthcare services to those affected by conflicts in the region.  This is in addition to presenting an initiative focused on developing Arab cooperation in the field of financial technology and digital transformation, a sector which carries promising investment and job opportunities for Arab youth.

Here, we must laud the unified vision of the Arab leaders to support and develop regional and international cooperation for peace and development, work to end all conflicts, maintain regional security and stability, and protect freedom of maritime navigation and international trade  to preserve the interests of all countries of the world.

In line with the responsibility of our presidency of the Arab Summit, in its current session, we will exert efforts to coordinate stances and mobilise the necessary support for the goal of lasting peace.  In this regard, we call for the expediting of the international peace conference to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their national state.  The Kingdom of Bahrain has announced its readiness to host this important conference and will spare no effort to halt the devastating war on the Gaza Strip, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians, and defend their right to a decent life, as stipulated by international laws and divine laws.

In this regard, we stress the need to intensify diplomatic efforts for full international recognition of Palestine and grant it full membership in the United Nations.  We express great appreciation for the supportive stances of the People’s Republic of China towards just Arab issues, particularly the Palestinian issue, and its tangible efforts to alleviate the human suffering of the civilians of Gaza, emanating from its full commitment to backing their endeavours and unifying their positions to establish their independent country. 

Your Excellency, Distinguished Attendees,

The Kingdom of Bahrain acknowledges China's global stature and its remarkable achievements in addressing the challenges of globalisation, while preserving its cultural identity and its accelerating economic progress. Bahrain also commends China’s generous assistance to developing countries, which reflects its commitment to fostering prosperity and human dignity across the world.

In conclusion, we look forward to the continued success of the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum in strengthening relations between the two regions, wishing China continued progress and prosperity. 

May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you,

Other Arab leaders also delivered speeches at the forum.

Senior officials in Arab countries and the Chinese government attended the opening.  

The China-Arab Cooperation Forum, in its current session, discusses means to strengthen and develop historical friendship relations and the close strategic partnership between Arab countries and China.  It also aims to enhance cooperation in economic, commercial, cultural and other sectors, and discuss developments in regional and international issues of common interest.