Win-win approach

With the Chinese economy becoming an important pillar of global economic growth, the country is also "firmly safeguarding the international system with the UN as the core and the international order based on international law, practicing multilateralism, and maintaining fairness and justice as the mainstay", Saphariny says.

"China continues to support and practice true multilateralism, continues to promote the democratization of international relations, adhere to the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom for all mankind, as well as jointly building a community of human destiny that transcends differences in system and civilization."

The Belt and Road Initiative alone reflects an "economic development strategy centered on openness, tolerance, mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation through in-depth and comprehensive research of the domestic and international situation. It turns the risks and challenges facing China and the world into opportunities for development", he says.

Arab countries in effect form a "convergence point" of the BRI; the initiative, important for the world and especially so for developing countries, is thus particularly significant for the Arab community as the natural partner for China to jointly develop the Belt and Road, he says.

"China and Arab countries have a deep tradition of friendship and cooperation. The Silk Road 2,000 years ago was the beginning of friendly exchanges between China and Arab countries," he says.

China is one of the first countries to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization and the state of Palestine, setting up a Palestinian diplomatic institution in its capital, Beijing. It has called for the restoration of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions, Saphariny says.

"The economies of China and Arab countries are highly complementary, providing broad advancement for bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Arab countries enjoy an important geographical location, rich resources and a huge consumer market (400 million people).

"Arab countries, especially the Gulf countries, have the richest oil reserves in the world and are China's most important energy partner."

Arabs also "need China's advanced technology, investment and manufacturing products" in leveraging the "many common advantages" shared by the two sides, he says.