Arabs hail Xi's message on building community with shared future for China and Arab in new era

Chinese President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter to the China-Arab States Political Parties Dialogue Extraordinary Meeting has shown the firm determination of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to build with Arab political parties a community with a shared future for China and Arab states in the new era, experts said on Monday.

In his letter, Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said the COVID-19 outbreak has once again laid bare that humanity share a common future.

"China remains ready to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Arab states and indeed the international community to support the World Health Organization's leading role and work together to build a global community of health for all," Xi said, noting that with openness, transparency and a sense of responsibility, China has pursued and promoted international cooperation in COVID-19 response and has done everything to the best of its ability to support and assist the international fight against the outbreak.

Noting that China has provided Sudan with much-needed medical assistance in the fight against COVID-19, Ali Yousif, executive director of the Arab-Chinese Friendship Societies' League based in Sudan, said that Arab states can benefit from China's anti-epidemic experience.

"Coronavirus has proved that the entire humanity has a common destiny," he added.

Maher Ihsan, a Syrian political expert, noted that China, while fighting the deadly pathogen within its border, has always been concerned about the epidemic situation in other countries.

Since each member of the international community is confronted with the same problems, the world must work together to solve those problems, he said, adding that "this is what the community with a shared future for humanity is all about."

In his letter, Xi also noted that Chinese and Arab peoples, erstwhile close companions along the ancient Silk Road, are working together to advance the Belt and Road cooperation to realize their common aspiration of national prosperity and rejuvenation.

Ahmed el-Saeed, founder and head of Cairo-based Chinese-Egyptian institution Wisdom House for Cultural Industries, pointed out that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is not restricted to a particular region or the interests of a particular group of states.

The post-COVID-19 era is very important for those who have joined the BRI, because the initiative will be a "savior" for those countries that have been affected by the negative economic repercussions of the pandemic, he added.

Khaled Zubaidi, Jordanian economic columnist and analyst, agreed that the BRI could support Arab countries in economic recovery in the aftermath of the pandemic.

"The initiative has shown positive effects on the economic development of participating countries, including Jordan, and I propose broadening and accelerating infrastructure-related projects, as they will provide more job opportunities," Zubaidi said.

The three-day meeting, held through video link, opened Monday evening.

With the theme of jointly building a community with a shared future for China and Arab states in the new era, over 60 leaders of political parties from Arab countries attended the meeting.