Ashraf Siddiqui
Doha
Over the past 10 years, the strategic partnership between Qatar and China has set a role model for the state-to-state relationship in the world, Ambassador of China to Qatar HE Cao Xiaolin has said.
The ambassador was speaking at a reception to mark the 10th anniversary of strategic diplomatic relations between the two countries. The event was attended by Dr Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, secretary general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar; Saleh bin Majid Al Khulaifi, assistant undersecretary for Industry Affairs and Business Development at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Maha Zayed Qaqaa Alruwaili, assistant undersecretary for Educational Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; ambassadors, guests, and members of the Chinese community.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Xiaolin said that under the strategic stewardship of President Xi Jinping and the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the partnership is now at its best in history.
“Our cordial friendship has taken deep roots among the two peoples and the cooperation has reaped fruitful outcomes in various fields. Some important experiences from the development of our diplomatic ties can help chart the way forward,” he said.
He added that during HH the Amir’s visit to China in 2014, both leaders announced that China and Qatar would establish strategic partnership and work to push the bilateral practical cooperation to a higher level.
He said though China and Qatar have different history and culture, the two countries respect each other, follow a development path suitable for their national conditions, firmly support each other in safeguarding respective sovereignty, security and development interests, adding that both countries also uphold mutual trust and mutual assistance.
“China and Qatar have cemented political mutual trust over the past years and will continue to firmly support each other’s core interests and major concerns,” he added.
He pointed out that China has been Qatar’s biggest trading partner over the past four years and Qatar is now the second largest country exporting LNG to China.
The Chinese envoy said that the two countries have expanded cooperation in various fields within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and forged synergy between BRI and Qatar National Vision 2030.
He stressed that China and Qatar uphold fairness and justice, and the two states hold similar views on the war on Gaza and have called on all parties to exercise restraint and worked hard to deescalate the situation.
“What comes out more important as an experience from the China-Qatar strategic partnership is the firm adherence of the one-China principle by the Qatari Government, to which the Chinese Government appreciates very much,” he added.
“China-Qatar strategic partnership will open up new prospects for common development, win-win cooperation and mutual success for the benefit of both the Chinese and Qatari people, and for lasting peace, prosperity and stability of the world,” the envoy added.
Ambassador Xiaolin said this year also marks the 20th anniversary of the inception of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, under which China and the Arab states have consolidated cooperation in traditional areas, including economy and trade, energy and infrastructure development.
“China has been the biggest trading partner of the Arab states for quite a few years. The two-way trade volume has grown from $36.7 billion in 2004 to $398.1 billion in 2023, a 10-fold increase in 20 years,” he said.
The Chinese envoy added that the Middle East is undergoing new and profound changes as the aspiration of the Arab people for peace and development is much more compelling, and the Palestinian issue bears on peace and stability in the Middle East, and is one of the core interests of the Arab states.
He stressed that the historical injustices done to the Palestinian people should not be left unattended indefinitely and the prolonged war on Gaza calls for a just settlement of the Palestinian issue at an early date.
He said that as one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China has played very important positive role in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Middle East.
He praised the role of Qatar which has worked very hard with Egypt, as mediators from the Arab countries, to help reach a ceasefire deal on the war on Gaza and to provide humanitarian assistance to people in Gaza.
