China emphasizes importance of China-Arab strategic partnership

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, addresses a daily press conference on July 2, 2020. (Photo/China News Service)

(ECNS) -- China attaches high importance to advancing the China-Arab strategic partnership against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The comment comes ahead of the ninth ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum to be held via video on July 6.

The forum will be co-chaired by State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi.

China and Arab states are good partners of mutual benefit and good brothers sharing weal and woe, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a daily press conference on Thursday.

The two sides have been fighting side by side with solidarity and mutual assistance since the novel coronavirus broke out, Zhao said, adding that relations between the two sides have been deepened and elevated in the process.

As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc around the globe, convening this meeting will send out a message of China and Arab states consolidating consensus on solidarity and cooperation, upholding multilateralism, supporting each other on issues bearing on core interests and major concerns, and joining hands to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era, the spokesman said.

Zhao stressed that China stands ready to work together with other participants to make this meeting a complete success.