The China-Arab States Young Leaders Forum is held on May 24, 2022 in Beijing via video link by the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Photo: Zhang Changyue/Global Times

 
China has urged young people in China and Arab countries to increase friendship and truly participate in win-win cooperation to make contributions to the further development of China-Arab relations at the opening ceremony of the China-Arab States Young Leaders Forum on Tuesday.

The forum was held via video link in Beijing to facilitate the understanding and mutual learning between young people in China and Arab countries and to gather wisdom and ideas for the promotion of the China-Arab strategic partnership. Youth representatives from political organizations, media and think tanks from 17 Arab countries attended the opening ceremony.

"Young people in China and Arab countries should support each other to firmly defend international fairness and justice to carry forward China-Arab traditional friendship, and to promote the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future," said Song Tao, minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, at the opening ceremony.

"Arab countries have always firmly supported China on issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang and human rights, and China also firmly supports Arab countries to take the development path that suits the country's national conditions," said Song.

Shadi Abuzarqa, deputy Ambassador of Palestine to China, told the Global Times that exchanges between young people will lead to new achievements for China-Arab relations, which are now at their best as both sides have strengthened cooperation on COVID-19, solar energy resources, 5G and education exchanges.

Representatives of political parties from Mauritania and Yemen also spoke highly of the forum, saying that the communication and exchanges by young people from China and Arab countries will result in more consensus and vitality, which will help to promote relations between China and Arab countries.