(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-23 09:14

MANAMA -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi left here Thursday, concluding a three-day visit to Bahrain after attending the third ministerial meeting of China-Arab Cooperation Forum.

The forum meeting has achieved a complete success as delegates from China and 22 Arab nations signed four documents to boost their cooperation in the next two years, Yang told reporters after the meeting ended Wednesday evening.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, left in the front row, shakes hand with Amr Moussa, Arab League (AL) Secretary General after signing documents at the third ministerial meeting of China-Arab Cooperation Forum in Manama, Bahrain May 21, 2008. [Xinhua]

CHINA, ARAB COUNTRIES TO EXPAND COOPERATION

Warm applaud echoed in the grand meeting room of Bahraini capital's Ritz Carton Hotel. Everyone in the room wore a big smile on their faces. This was a scene when Yang and Amr Moussa, Arab League (AL) Secretary General, signed four documents to further expand China-Arab cooperation in new areas.

Their deals include a communique, an action plan for 2008 to 2010 and two cooperation documents on environment protection and investment.

The communique said both sides would enhance their bilateral cooperation especially in transfer of technology expertise, finance, infrastructure construction and environmental protection.

China pledged to expand the human resource training, saying it will help to train 1,000 personnel of management and technology for Arab countries every year in the next three years.

The communique also called for both sides to enhance exchanges and dialogue between different culture and civilization, and they decided to make it a mechanism to hold art festivals alternately between China and Arab countries.

According to the 2008-2010 action plan, Syria will hold the second China-Arab Friendship Conference in October 2008; Sudan will hold the second China-Arab Energy Conference in 2010; and Tunisia will hold the third symposium on China-Arab civilization dialogue in 2009.

"Promoting cooperation is the foremost aim of the forum and both sides should address their real needs in the cooperation," Yang said.

He said China will make joint efforts with the Arab countries to improve their trade structure and resolve the trade imbalance.

CLOSER FRIENDSHIP AMONG OLD FRIENDS

"Please all rise for a one-minute silence to mourn for the earthquake victims in China," Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled Bin Ahmed al-Thani proposed before the meeting started.

Every Arab delegates to the meeting reiterated their heartfelt condolences before delivering a speech.

Moved by the scene, Yang expressed gratitude for Arab nations' sympathy and support, saying "your mourning strikes me deeply that Arab people are standing together with Chinese people and we are friends and brothers who jointly shouldering pains and adversities. "

This small episode of the conference reflected the intimacy among two old friends, and China and Arab countries have kept close coordination in international and regional affairs as both sides have witnessed increasing political mutual trust in recent years.

Yang said China-Arab relations have set an exemplary international model and made important contributions to world peace and stability.

The communique said the two sides vow to strengthen political consultation on major international and regional issues.

China will continue to firmly support the just cause of the Arab people and their choices of development on their own, Yang said.

Both sides should also seek closer coordination in political and economic affairs of the world in an effort to protect the interests of developing nations, he added.

Arab nations appreciated China's constructive role in international issues and hoped China would exert more influence on Middle East peace process.

Arab countries stressed in the communique that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and they oppose "Taiwan independence" in any form.

HEAVY SHUTTLE TALKS ALONGSIDE FORUM

As part of his official visit in the gulf kingdom, Yang met with Bahrain's Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa and hold talks with his Bahraini counterpart Sheikh Khaled.

Hamad and Shaikh Khalifa hailed the Bahraini-Chinese ties and cooperation in commercial, economic, investment sectors and lauded China's leading role in boosting global security and peace.

Yang said China will make joint efforts with Bahrain in stepping up political trust, economic cooperation, cultural exchanges so as to bring bilateral relations to a new height.

Besides official meetings, Yang managed to make several improvised meetings on the sidelines of the session with AL chief Moussa, foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria and Mauritius.

Yang also made extensive contact with other ministers or representatives from the Arab countries to confer on bilateral ties and cooperation.

The forum meeting provided an opportunity for Arab nations to address relative issues as well.

During his meeting with Arab delegates, King Hamad praised the Arab states for their active participation of the forum which he said reflected eagerness to make dialogue.

"We should make use of the forum to strengthen coordination of major regional issues so as to help ease the tense situation in some region," Yang said.

Coinciding with the forum, the long-stalled Lebanese peace talks in Qatar's Doha reached a breakthrough deal between the Lebanese sides, which gave a joyous atmosphere of the forum.

Yang said with joint efforts from both China and Arab nations, the forum has set up a framework for increasing political, economic and cultural relations and become an effective mechanism to enhance dialogue.

The fourth ministerial meeting of the forum will be held in China in 2010.