AL chief: 'Beijing can play vital role'

The visit of President Xi Jinping to the League of Arab States in Cairo is "a very important event", and China's relations with the Arab countries are "ideal," Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Araby said in an interview with Xinhua on Monday.

"China is the only major state in the world that always supports Arab rights and causes, because they are rightful. China has great influence on the balance of international relations," he continued, praising Beijing for strongly supporting the Palestinian cause.

Araby's remarks came several days ahead of President Xi's visit to the Egyptian capital of Cairo for talks with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and with the Arab League chief as part of a regional tour including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran.