Railway, Port cooperation to label China-Arab relations

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized on Thursday that railways and ports are key symbols of the China-Arab relations during his attendance to the seventh ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF).

"Camels and sailing boats marked the ancient Silk Road," Wang said, adding that "nowadays, the China-Arab cooperative relations can be labeled by railway and port under the Belt and Road Initiative framework."

The Chinese official expressed the points of view in his speech on the opening ceremony of the CASCF ministerial meeting, which was held in Doha on Thursday.

Since its establishment in 2004, the CASCF has made great achievements in the past 12 years.

In 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted a "1+2+3" cooperation pattern under the Belt and Road Initiative for China-Arab relations in his keynote speech during the sixth CASCF ministerial conference.

In January, Chinese government issued its first policy document to the Arab states before Xi's visit to the region, providing a plan of future for the cooperation between the two sides.

To further explain China's policy on the China-Arab relations, Wang also stressed the key points in building the Belt and Road Initiative, including making full use of the complementarities in productivity and resources between the two sides, grasping cooperative opportunities in industrialization and culture exchanges, and refreshing the China-Arab historical friendship.

Firstly, communications through both land and sea will be promoted, Wang said.

"China supports its companies to join the construction on railway networks and ports in this region, and integrate the ports with industrial zones to build several comprehensive zones for economic development, trade cooperation and industry," he explained.

Secondly, the Chinese minister underlined the cooperation in productivity as a booster of the industrialization of Arab world.

Supported by China's cost-benefit equipment, advanced technologies, personnel training and financing, the Arab states will make a fast, economical and green way of industrialization for the interests of their peoples, Wang stressed.

"Last but not least, the two sides will continue the cultural exchanges to get more public support to our friendship," he said.

The Chinese foreign minister concluded his speech by saying that China would like to help the Arab nations to maintain stability.