On January 21, 2016 local time, President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech entitled "Jointly Create a Brighter Future for China-Arab Relations" at the headquarters of the League of Arab States (LAS) in Cairo, stressing that the two nations treat each other with sincerity and such trust is unbreakable. Both sides should join hands to build the "Belt and Road", establish the action concepts of peace, innovation, guidance, governance and integration, and promote the national rejuvenation of China and the Arab states to form more convergence.
At about 4:05 p.m. local time, Xi Jinping entered the lecture hall, accompanied by Secretary General of the LAS Nabil El Araby and Prime Minister Sherif Ismail of Egypt. The whole audience rose to welcome with warm applause. Nabil El Araby delivered a speech to welcome Xi Jinping's visit to the headquarters of the LAS. Amid the enthusiastic applause, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech.
Xi Jinping started his speech by paying high respect and conveying best wishes to the Arab countries and their peoples. He pointed out that in the exchanges beyond time and distance, the Chinese and Arab nations treated each other with sincerity, offered mutual help along the ancient Silk Road, shared the joys and sorrows in the fights for national independence, and stood up for each other on the path of building up their countries.
Xi Jinping pointed out that the Middle East is a land of abundance, yet so far still haunted by wars and conflicts. It is the desire of the people in the Middle East that there will be fewer conflicts and sufferings and more tranquility and dignity. The key to the elimination of divergences is to enhance dialogue. Military force is not the solution to the issue. The conflicting parties should form focus on promoting political settlement. The key to tackling thorny problems is to accelerate development. The key to the choice of path is to accord with national situations. The development path of a country can only be determined by its people, on the basis of its own historical inheritance, cultural traditions and the level of economic and social development.
Xi Jinping stressed that it is the common responsibility of the international community to safeguard the legitimate national rights and interests of the people of Palestine. The Palestinian issue should not be marginalized, let alone being neglected by the world. The Palestinian issue is the root issue for the peace in the Middle East. In order to settle disputes, the international community should not only push forward resumption of talks and implementation of agreements, but also adhere to principles and uphold justice, both of which are indispensable.
Xi Jinping emphasized that China and the Arab countries are jointly constructing the "Belt and Road", and the establishment of the "1+2+3" cooperative pattern with energy cooperation as the principal axis, infrastructure construction and trade and investment facilitation as the two wings, and the three major high-tech fields including nuclear power, space satellite and new energy as the breakthrough has yielded early results, the top designs grow increasingly sophisticated, the practical cooperation shows vitality and people-to-people and cultural exchanges are rich and colorful. We should grasp the critical period of the next five years to construct the "Belt and Road" together, play the roles as the builder of the peace, the promoter of the development, the facilitator of the industrialization, the supporter of the stability and the partner with popular support in the Middle East.
Firstly, hold high the banner of peace and dialogue and launch actions to promote stability. The construction of the "Belt and Road" is to advocate different peoples and cultures to embrace each other through communication rather than descend to sour relations. In its policies and measures toward the Middle East China insists to start from the own merits and demerits of affairs and proceed from the fundamental interests of the people in the Middle East. Instead of looking for a proxy in the Middle East, China promotes peace talks; instead of seeking any sphere of influence, China calls on all countries to join the circle of friends for the "Belt and Road"; instead of attempting to fill the "vacuum", China builds a cooperative partnership network for mutual benefits and win-win results.
Secondly, promote structural adjustment and take actions for innovation cooperation. We should advance the new cooperation model of "oil and gas plus" as well as explore new potentials for cooperation so as to establish China-Arab energy strategic cooperative relations characterized by mutual benefit, security and reliability and friendship in long term. We should innovate mechanisms of trade and investment and expand new space for cooperation. We should also make efforts to strengthen cooperation in high-tech field and foster new impetus for cooperation so as to improve the value and quality of practical cooperation between China and the Arab countries.
Thirdly, facilitate industrialization in the Middle East and launch actions to dovetail production capacity. Combination of China's edge of production capacity with the Middle East's human resources can create more and better employment opportunities. China will work with the Arab countries to jointly carry out docking actions of production capacity for the purpose of accelerating industrialization process in the Middle East.
Fourthly, advocate communication and mutual learning among civilizations and carry out activities to enhance friendship. Chinese and Arabian civilizations share common ideas and pursuits accumulated in mankind's development and progress. China will continue to unswervingly support the Middle East and the Arab countries to safeguard their national and cultural traditions. We should conduct dialogue among civilizations and advocate inclusiveness and mutual learning. We will carry out the of "Hundred, Thousand, and Ten Thousand Talents" Project to enhance friendship and make talents and ideas flow and flourish along the "Belt and Road".
Xi Jinping emphasized that China and the Arab countries should go hand in hand with the same mind and advance side by side, so as to make efforts to deepen China-Arab friendly cooperation and together strive for the lofty cause of peace and development of mankind.
At the end of the speech, the audience responded with prolonged applause.
More than 200 people including representatives from related countries' diplomatic missions in the LAS, staff at the LAS, Egyptian government officials and others attended the speech.
Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others were present.