Beijing, October 14th—Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with Abdulrahman Ahmad Al-Harbi, Saudi Ambassador to China, and held a group exchange with the diplomatic envoys of member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in China.

Liu said this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Saudi Arabia. Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, China-Saudi Arabia relations have flourished, with cooperation deepening across various fields, setting an example of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation among Global South countries. China stands ready to deepen political mutual trust with Saudi Arabia, expand practical cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional affairs, and take bilateral relations to a higher level. The IDCPC will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Saudi side through inter-party channels, promote exchanges of experience in state governance and administration, and advance the China-Saudi Arabia comprehensive strategic partnership.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of contact between China and the GCC. In recent years, with the care and support from the leaders of China and GCC member states, China-GCC relations have enjoyed comprehensive, rapid and in-depth development, with fruitful results in various fields. China attaches great importance to its relations with the GCC and stands ready to work with the GCC side to further enrich the substance of the strategic partnership. The IDCPC is willing to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with governments, parliaments, think tanks, media outlets and other sectors in GCC member states, enhance strategic communication and exchanges of ideas, and promote mutual learning among civilizations, contributing to the development of China-GCC relations.

Amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the Gulf region, China attaches importance to the legitimate security concerns of the GCC member states. Guided by the initiatives and proposals for peace and stability put forward by President Xi Jinping, China stands ready to strengthen communication and cooperation with the GCC side. China remains committed to contributing its part toward achieving a comprehensive ceasefire in the Middle East, advancing a political settlement, facilitating an early resumption of negotiations, and fostering lasting peace.

Al-Harbi said the leaders of Saudi Arabia attach great importance to developing relations with China, and have always put the development of relations with China as a priority. In 2022, President Xi paid a historic visit to Saudi Arabia, opening a new chapter in Saudi Arabia-China relations. Saudi Arabia is willing to further deepen exchanges and cooperation with China across various fields to push for greater progress in bilateral relations. The Saudi side firmly adheres to the one-China principle, supports the major concepts and initiatives put forward by President Xi, and commends the four-point proposal for promoting common security in the Middle East that President Xi proposed during his visit to Egypt in September. Given the numerous security and development challenges currently facing the region, Saudi Arabia is ready to strengthen bilateral and multilateral coordination with China to jointly foster stability and prosperity in the Middle East. 

The diplomatic envoys of GCC member states in China congratulated the CPC on the 105th anniversary of its founding. They said the GCC side attaches great importance to developing relations with China and stands ready to work with China to implement the important consensus reached between President Xi and leaders of GCC member states, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation across various fields, and maintain coordination on international and regional affairs to push for greater development of GCC-China relations. They expressed willingness to further strengthen exchanges of visits of delegations and cooperation on training with the IDCPC, and promote exchanges of ideas and mutual learning between the two sides. The envoys also shared their views on the current regional situation, commended China’s position and efforts, and expressed readiness to enhance communication and coordination with China to jointly promote regional peace and stability.