Xi says China ready to contribute more to Middle East peace, development

BEIJING -- China is ready to work with Saudi Arabia to make all-out efforts to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era and contribute more to peace, stability and development in the Middle East, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.

Xi made the remarks during his phone talks with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

Asking the Saudi crown prince to convey his best wishes and Ramadan greetings to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Xi said that China-Saudi Arabia relations are currently at an all-time high.

Noting that he paid a successful state visit to Saudi Arabia at the end of last year, Xi pointed out that the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit were also successfully held, which have boosted China-Saudi Arabia relations, promoted China's relations with the GCC and Arab states, and positively impacted the Middle East situation.

China is ready to work with Saudi Arabia to implement the outcomes of his state visit to Saudi Arabia, the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-GCC Summit last year, and continue to firmly support each other on issues involving their respective core interests, Xi said.

The Chinese side also stands ready to expand practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges with Saudi Arabia, and push for greater development of China-Saudi Arabia comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said.

China is willing to work with Saudi Arabia to make all-out efforts to build a China-Arab community with a shared future for the new era and make more contributions to promoting peace, stability and development in the Middle East, Xi said.

Xi pointed out that recently, with the joint efforts of China, Saudi Arabia and Iran, the talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Beijing were successfully held and achieved significant results, helping Saudi Arabia and Iran improve their relations, with a significant demonstration effect on enhancing the unity and cooperation of regional countries and easing regional tensions, and thus having been widely praised by the international community.

Recently, the momentum of detente among regional countries has been growing remarkably, which has fully demonstrated that resolving contradiction and differences through dialogue and consultation is in accordance with the people's aspiration, the trend of the times and the interests of all countries, Xi said.

It is hoped that Saudi Arabia and Iran will uphold the spirit of good neighborliness and continue to improve their relations on the basis of the results of their talks in Beijing, said the Chinese president, adding that China is ready to continue to support the follow-up process of the Saudi-Iranian talks.

For his part, the Saudi crown prince conveyed King Salman's greetings to Xi, and extended again his warm congratulations on Xi's reelection as Chinese president.

The Saudi side sincerely appreciates China for its strong support for Saudi Arabia and Iran improving their relations, which has fully demonstrated China's role as a responsible major country, said the Saudi crown prince.

China is increasingly playing an important and constructive role in regional and international affairs, which is highly appreciated by the Saudi side, he said, adding that China is an important partner of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi side attaches great importance to the development of relations with China and is willing to work with China to open up new prospects for cooperation between the two countries, he added.