Arab League keen to promote Arab-Chinese relations

The Arab League is keen to promote Arab-Chinese relations and develop them into a comprehensive strategic relationship, Secretary General Nabil el Araby said.

Addressing the opening session of the seventh ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Doha, Araby said he hopes Arab-Chinese cooperation makes progress regarding Arab crises and causes and that China plays a vital role on the Paris conference on supporting the Palestinian cause and applying the two-state solution.

He expressed regret that no progress was made in the Palestinian cause and the stalemate it has been seeing with the absence of any serous initiatives to find a fair and lasting solution to this central issue, on which security and stability in the Middle East are based.

He said work is needed to provide international protection to the Palestinian people and to re-propose and adopt a United Nations Security Council resolution that reiterates the two-state solution under the Arab peace initiative and puts a time table for ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

International consultations and contacts are underway to support a French initiative on holding an international conference to find a political solution based on the agreed upon terms of reference and understandings, he said during his speech to the forum which was distributed by the Arab League.

In this context, Araby praised the Chinese firm stance in support of the Palestinian cause, saying he hopes more support will be seen from the Chinese friends to help achieve a comprehensive and just settlement.

As for the Syrian crisis, Araby said it represents a challenge to the international community with its political and humanitarian angles as it is the largest humanitarian crisis in the 21st century.

He said he hopes that present efforts aiming at forming a transitional power authority based on the final statement of the Geneva-1 conference and relevant UNSC resolutions will stem the bloodshed of the Syrian people and preserve the unity and sovereignty of the country.

Speaking about Libya, the Arab League chief said the signing of a political deal in December and the return of the Libyan Presidential Council to the capital Tripoli are an important development in the political transition process.

The Arab League backs the legitimate Yemeni government represented by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, he said, calling on all Yemeni sides to resolve their differences through dialogue and consultations.

Source : MENA