The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the GCC agreed to establish a China-Sea strategic partnership as soon as possible

Source: Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On January 11, 2022, Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China, held talks with Naif bin Farah bin Mubarak Khajirav, Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China, and the two sides exchanged views in a friendly and in-depth manner and reached broad consensus on China-Strait relations and international and regional issues of common concern.

China positively evaluates the important achievements made by the GCC in the past 40 years since its establishment and supports the GCC in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs. The GCC Secretariat congratulates the CPC leadership Chinese the people on their major development achievements, highly appreciates China's important influence and positive role in international and regional affairs, and attaches importance to the five-point initiative on achieving security and stability in the Middle East put forward by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to the region in March 2021.

The two sides are satisfied with the level of development of China-Sea relations, believe that strengthening China-Sea cooperation is in the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides, and look forward to further promoting the upgrading of bilateral relations, strengthening mutual support and better safeguarding common interests. The parties agreed to:

I. Establish a China-Sea strategic partnership as soon as possible, further expand the field of bilateral cooperation, enhance the level of pragmatic cooperation, cope with current challenges, achieve common development, and serve common interests.

2. Sign the Action Plan for the China-Sea Strategic Dialogue from 2022 to 2025 as soon as possible to open up new prospects and expand more areas for bilateral cooperation.

3. Complete the negotiations on the China-Sea Free Trade Agreement as soon as possible, establish the China-Sea Free Trade Area, enhance the level of trade liberalization and facilitation, and comprehensively promote the economic and trade interests of both sides.

4. Hold the fourth round of the China-Sea Strategic Dialogue in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in due course, to strengthen strategic communication between the two sides, implement the development plan of the two sides, and plan the future development of China-Sea relations and cooperation.

Before and after the meeting, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also received visits from the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and other countries, and had telephone calls with the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to exchange in-depth views and coordinate and communicate on upholding multilateralism, safeguarding regional security, and strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation.