On January 15, 2012, visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu in Riyadh.
The Chinese premier said the friendship between China and the Islamic world had a long history and had made major contributions to human civilization. Under current complex international situation, Wen said, mutual understanding and respect, as well as friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the Islamic countries had become a good example for "South-South" cooperation and dialogue among different civilizations. China attaches great importance to the role and influence of the OIC. He said China was willing to enhance mutual political trust and strengthen coordination with the OIC on major issues, so as to further promote friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and the Islamic countries.
Wen said China and the OIC shared common interests in safeguarding peace and stability in West Asia and North Africa, adding China called for an end to violence against civilians. He also said China supported the popular appeals for reform in the countries concerned, and China hoped and believed the governments and peoples in these regions had the ability to solve their own problems. The OIC and the Arab League could play an important role in this regard.
Ihsanoglu said Islamic countries and China enjoyed time-honored friendly exchanges and had made positive contribution to human progress. The two sides understood and supported each other, he said, adding there were and would be neither historical grievances nor realistic problems between China and the Islamic countries. He also said the OIC attached strategic importance to communication and coordination with China, and was willing to promote and strengthen the friendly cooperation between the Islamic countries and China. He said the OIC advocated the solution of economic and social problems via development and reform and the resolution of differences through dialogue and consultations. The OIC was against the use of force and was willing to play a positive role in safeguarding peace and stability in the region and the world at large, he said.