Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (4th right) meets with foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the United States, Sept 19, 2022. (LIU JIE / XINHUA）
NEW YORK – Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on Monday with foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Those who attended the meeting with Wang on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly included Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, which now holds the rotating presidency of the GCC, GCC Secretary-General Nayef bin Falah Al-Hajraf, Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, as well as representatives from Qatar and Oman.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said that China appreciates the GCC countries for their upholding justice on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and human rights, as well as their understanding of and support for China's legitimate demands
In the meeting, Wang said that with the attention and guidance of the leaders of China and the GCC, the relations between the two sides have been healthy, stable and growing in an all-round manner, and are at the forefront of China's relations with Arab countries.
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Noting that China has been the largest trading partner of the GCC for a long time, Wang said last year, trade between China and the GCC increased by 44 percent against the trend, practical cooperation between the two sides in various fields are fruitful, people-to-people exchanges are becoming increasingly close, and China-GCC relations have become a model for cooperation between China and developing countries.
Under the current situation, China and the GCC countries, as good friends, partners and brothers, should continue to help and support each other, Wang said, adding that China is willing to join hands with the GCC to consolidate mutual trust, deepen cooperation and push relations between China and the GCC countries to a new level.
Wang also said that China appreciates the GCC countries for their upholding justice on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and human rights, as well as their understanding of and support for China's legitimate demands.
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China will continue to firmly support the GCC countries in safeguarding sovereignty, independence, security and stability, support the GCC in promoting integration, and oppose interference in the internal affairs of the GCC countries by anyone, Wang said.
The Chinese side is ready to work with the GCC countries to defend non-interference in internal affairs, which is a basic norm governing international relations, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries, he added.
Members of the GCC said that China, which is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and an important partner of the Gulf countries, plays an important role in maintaining regional and world security and stability, and in promoting global development.
The GCC, they said, is full of expectations for the bright future of China-GCC relations, adding that it is willing to consolidate mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, ensure food and energy security and supply chains stability, and jointly meet global challenges.
The GCC side firmly adheres to the one-China policy, supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, they said, adding that both the GCC and China uphold the principles of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs.
It is ready to continue strengthening communication and cooperation with China in international affairs so as to maintain peace and stability, and promote development and prosperity, they added.
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Wang stressed that China fully supports a diversified economic development of GCC countries, and is willing to strengthen the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative with the development strategies of the GCC countries, continuously deepen cooperation in energy, infrastructure, finance, investment, high technologies and other fields, expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and create more cooperation highlights.
China supports the GCC countries in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the GCC on multilateral platforms, jointly practice the true multilateralism, and work together to safeguard regional and world peace and stability, Wang added.
Both sides agreed that they should make joint efforts to reach an agreement on a free trade agreement between them at an early date, so as to send a positive signal and promote their own development.
The two sides also agreed to deepen strategic mutual trust, lift the positioning of bilateral relations, and speed up the formulation of a strategic cooperation plan for the next step. The two sides also exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear issue, the situation in Yemen and other topics.