In a world defined by intertwined turbulence and transformation, what kind of partnership can weather storms and stand the test of time? China and the Arab states have offered a vivid answer through mutual support that transcends time and space.
Though separated by mountains and seas, China and the Arab states know and cherish each other as close partners. For millennia, the two great civilizations have inspired one another and advanced together through exchange and mutual learning. Today, as changes unseen in a century accelerate and regional dynamics grow ever more complex, the friendship and wisdom embodied in China-Arab cooperation have become all the more precious.
The deep foundation of China-Arab cooperation lies in enduring strategic mutual trust. Guided by head-of-state diplomacy, this trust has been continuously strengthened. From the first China-Arab States Summit in 2022, which outlined a blueprint for building a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era, to the 2024 proposal of the “five cooperation frameworks,” which provided new momentum to bilateral cooperation, the top-level design of China–Arab relations has grown increasingly clear, and the path forward ever more well-defined.
This mutual trust has been further consolidated through trials and tribulations. When conflict once again erupted in the Middle East, posing a grave threat to regional security and development, China promptly called for a ceasefire and the promotion of peace. China’s just position and tireless efforts have vividly demonstrated what true “standing together in solidarity” means. Arab states have likewise extended firm support on issues concerning China’s core interests. This shared understanding—of consistently standing together on major issues of mutual concern—constitutes the strategic underpinning that elevates China-Arab relations beyond ordinary bilateral ties.
Solid political mutual trust has fostered comprehensive, high‑level, and practical cooperation that continues to yield fruitful results. China’s role as the largest trading partner of the Arab states remains firmly established. Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative now encompasses all Arab states, and collaboration has long transcended the traditional energy‑based partnership, expanding into broader and deeper domains.
We are witnessing a surge of innovative vitality. From photovoltaic power stations rising in the vast deserts of Saudi Arabia, to smart and efficient power distribution networks in Egypt, and to new-energy vehicles running through the streets of the United Arab Emirates, Chinese technologies have become deeply integrated with the development visions of the Arab states, together painting a picture of a green and digital future.
We are also witnessing cooperation becoming more multidimensional. While consolidating its traditional role as a “ballast,” energy cooperation is quickly extending into green frontiers such as hydrogen energy and energy storage. Local currency swaps and strengthened interaction between sovereign wealth funds have further deepened financial lifelines. Industrial parks in countries such as Egypt and Morocco have become vivid examples of job creation and growth.
More than that, we are witnessing the bonds between people grow ever stronger. The popularity of the Chinese language continues to rise, two‑way tourism is becoming increasingly convenient, and joint archaeological projects enable civilizations to engage in dialogue across time and space. Cultural performances and film and television works bring hearts closer together. These people‑to‑people exchanges, deeply rooted in society, form the most solid foundation for building a China-Arab community with a shared future.
At present, the world has entered a new phase of turbulence and transformation, with geopolitical conflicts posing prominent risks. The desire for lasting peace, stability, and development in the Middle East has become ever more pressing. The greater the challenges, the more valuable it is to stand together in solidarity. Looking ahead, advancing China-Arab cooperation to a new level requires joint efforts to build a strong shield for regional peace, promote dialogue and consultation, support regional countries in resolving hotspot issues through independent means, and oppose all forms of power politics and external interference.
Advancing China-Arab cooperation to a new level requires deeper alignment of development strategies. Efforts should be made to further advance the “five cooperation frameworks,” ensuring their effective implementation and sustained progress. Forward-looking arrangements should be made in fields that foster new quality, productive forces, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and the low-carbon economy. By sharing the opportunities presented by China’s vast market and high-level opening-up and better integrating China’s strengths in technology and capital with the resource endowments, market potential, and geographic advantages of the Arab states, both sides can jointly enhance the independence and resilience of their development.
Advancing China-Arab cooperation to a new level requires closer coordination in global governance. As important members of the Global South, China and the Arab states should work in close concert within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, firmly uphold the international order based on international law, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and set an example of South-South cooperation in global governance to amplify the collective voice of developing countries in safeguarding their common interests as well as international fairness and justice.
History has proven that China and the Arab states have always been good partners for mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and true friends who share weal and woe. Standing at a new historical starting point, as long as both sides continue to carry forward the spirit of solidarity and mutual support, and stay firmly on the right path toward building a China-Arab community with a shared future, they will surely provide greater certainty and positive energy to a world fraught with turbulence and transformation, and make even greater contributions to a better future for humanity.
Yu Xianhong, Resercher at Xinhua News Agency Institute