Promoting media ties with the Arab world

State Council Information Office Vice-Minister Qian Xiaoqian delivered a speech on Thursday at the Forum of China-Arab Cooperation in Media. Following are excerpts from the speech:

The China-Arab Cooperation Forum was established in January 2004 by the Foreign Ministry of China and the Arab League (AL). The forum has been conducive to Sino-Arab relations as well as enhanced cooperation on all levels and in all fields. China and Arab nations are mutually complementary regarding their respective economies and the partners have maintained solid and comprehensive economic cooperation.

There have also been frequent cultural exchanges between China and the Arab countries. increasing in tandem with political and economic cooperation. The two parties have signed a series of action plans for cultural exchanges. The first Chinese Culture Center located in the Arab world was established in Cairo in 2004 to serve as a gateway for the local people to better understand Chinese culture.