China pledges support for Bahrain's efforts to safeguard stability

President Xi Jinping (L) holds a welcoming ceremony for King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-khalifa before their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Sept 16, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping met with the King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-khalifa on Monday afternoon and pledged to back the Middle East country's efforts to safeguard stability.

"China respects Bahrain's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and supports the country's efforts to maintain stability and realize long-lasting peace and stability," Xi said as he held talks with the visiting king.

The king paid a state visit to China from Saturday to Monday at Xi's invitation.

During the visit, the two sides issued a joint communique, according to which China and Bahrain's mutual endorsement on issues involving each other's major interests have shown their sincere friendship.

Bahrain supports the one-China policy and backs the Chinese government's push to achieve national unification, says the communique.

China is opposed to any interference into Bahrain's internal affairs and endorses the bid to make the Middle East into a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, says the communique.

During the talks, President Xi praised Bahrain as an important partner in the Middle East as well as the Gulf region and said that the two countries should be committed to the forging of a stable and long-standing friendly and cooperative relationship.

Xi called on the two sides to push ahead with their cooperation in trade, finance, telecommunications, agriculture, new energy, infrastructure and other sectors.

The Chinese side is willing to train more professionals from Bahrain, said the president.

Xi also said the two countries should increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges and enhance communication and coordination on major international and regional affairs to maintain regional stability and safeguard the interests of developing countries.

According to the communique issued on Monday, China and Bahrain signed a series of cooperative documents on culture, health, finance, energy, taxation and education during the king's visit.

The Chinese side will "actively" consider listing Bahrain as a tourist destination for Chinese citizens, says the communique.