IRIA News

China’s President Xi Jinping hosted the heads of state from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Tunisia, and other Arab nations on May 30, 2024, for the China-Arab summit intended to focus on Beijing’s expanding trade relationships and security concerns related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Arab leaders have gathered in Beijing for the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, a dialogue initiative between China and Arab League member states.

In addition to senior-level officials from Arab and non-Arab states, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Tunisian President Kais Saied, and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan are some of the notable figures attending the China-Arab summit.

During the opening of a summit with Arab state leaders in Beijing on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his calls for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and pledged increased humanitarian aid for the people in Gaza.

China is seeking to strengthen its relations with Arab states as a model for maintaining world peace and stability, Xi was quoted as saying by state media at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing.

The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was established in January 2004 during then-Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to Cairo. The forum aims to enhance ties and cooperation between China and Arab nations. It held its inaugural meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo in September 2004.

Beijing declaration

The joint statement at the 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum emphasized the necessity of reaching a cease-fire in Gaza and ensuring the continuous flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave. It also reaffirmed China’s and the Arab countries’ opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians and called for resolving the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution.

The ministerial meeting was co-chaired by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Mauritania’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzouk. Officials from 22 Arab states attended, including Egyptian President al-Sisi, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Tunisian President Kais Saied, and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Algeria, and Morocco were also present. Additionally, Qatar’s Minister of State at the Foreign Ministry Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, and Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah, Prime Minister of Libya’s Tripoli-based government, participated. Lebanon was represented by Hani Shmeitli, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abu el-Gheit was among the attendees as well.

According to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the forum adopted a Beijing Declaration which outlined ways to promote the building of a China-Arab community and enhance bilateral cooperation. It also emphasized shared positions between China and Arab countries on resolving regional crises, counterterrorism efforts, human rights issues, climate change, and artificial intelligence.

President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the UAE H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan @MohamedBinZayed. The UAE is China’s important comprehensive strategic partner, and China-UAE relations have set a fine example for China’s relations with Arab states in the new era.… pic.twitter.com/aJFoCqmcBm

— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) May 30, 2024

The Action Implementation Plan was also adopted during the meeting which laid out a framework for boosting Chinese-Arab ties and cooperation in various fields, including in economy, politics, infrastructure, and aviation, over the next two years.

More aid for Gaza

“Since last October, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated drastically, throwing people into tremendous suffering,” Xi said in a speech opening the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. “War should not continue indefinitely.”

President Xi called for an immediate international peace conference to resolve the Israel-Hamas conflict and pledged $69 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza. Additionally, he promised to donate $3 million to a United Nations agency that aids and relief to refugees of the Israel-Hamas war.

Beijing and the Arab states only support Palestinians in the ongoing conflict, with Israel facing increasing international condemnation after a strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah killed at least 45 people over the weekend. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the overall Palestinian death toll in the war exceeds 36,000.

Beijing has long supported Palestinians and condemned Israel for its settlements in the occupied territories. It has not criticized the Hamas attack on October 7, which killed about 1,200 Israelis, while the United States and others have labeled it an act of terrorism. However, China continues to maintain growing economic ties with Israel.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, speaking at the opening ceremony, praised China for advocating an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and supporting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

“I call on all active actors of the international community to assume their moral and legal responsibilities to stop the outrageous Israeli war,” Egyptian President el-Sissi said.

“I further urge the international community to take immediate and decisive action to enforce the instantaneous and unfettered delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance to the Gaza Strip to break the Israeli siege and counter any attempts to forcibly displace the Palestinians from their lands,” el-Sissi said.

China-Arab trade

Xi and el-Sissi held a bilateral meeting one day before the forum, during which they inked a series of cooperation agreements spanning areas such as infrastructure, technology, and food imports, aimed at bolstering their bilateral relations.

China has injected billions of dollars into Egyptian state projects, including initiatives like the Suez Canal economic zone and the construction of a new administrative capital east of Cairo. In 2023, investments between Egypt and China totaled around $14 billion, slightly lower than the $16.6 billion recorded in 2022, as per Egypt’s statistics agency.

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Beijing on Wednesday. Xi said that China is ready to work with Egypt to deepen mutual trust, advance cooperation, build a #China–#Egypt community with a shared future in the new era and… pic.twitter.com/g49pPcvpUN

— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) May 29, 2024

China also brokered trade and economic cooperation deals with other participating Arab countries, including UAE, Bahrain, and Tunisia. China ranks as Tunisia’s fourth-largest trading partner, following Germany, Italy, and France. Beijing has financed various projects in Tunisia, including hospitals and sports complexes, while its companies have secured contracts to construct critical infrastructure such as bridges and deep-water Mediterranean ports.