Jordan to participate in China-Arab Cooperation Forum

Amman, May 31 (Petra)-Jordan will take part in the upcoming 6th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum (CASCF) to be held in Beijing next Thursday.

Foreign ministers and representatives from China and Arab states, as well as the Secretary-General of the Arab League, will attend the meeting.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a statement, highlighted the significance of the meeting in further deepening Sino-Arab strategic cooperative relations, noting that under the framework of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum, the two sides have established more than a dozen cooperative programs covering areas such as culture, finance, environmental protection, agriculture and infrastructure.

During the past ten years, Sino-Arab trade volume reached $239 billion, the statement said, adding that China has become the second largest trading partner of the Arab states, as well as the largest trading partner of nine Arab countries.

Further, the Arab states are now China’s seventh largest trading partner and its major partner in the field of energy, the foreign minister added.

On the cultural level, China has opened some 20 disciplines related to the Arabic language in more than 20 Chinese universities and established 11 Confucius Institutes in eight Arab countries.

About 10,000 Arab students study in China annually, the statement revealed.

This year’s ministerial meeting coincides with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum. Attendees will have comprehensive and in-depth discussions on the development of the forum, China-Arab relations, and the enhancement of practical cooperation between China and Arab states in various fields, as well as international and regional issues of common interest.

Participants will take the opportunity to sum up the experience and achievements in building the Forum, and better-plan the future direction and priorities of Sino-Arab friendly cooperation. Officials believe that with the joint efforts from both China and the Arab League, this meeting is sure to reach the expected goals and elevate Sino-Arab strategic cooperative relations to a new level.

//Petra//S Kh