Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Tunisia's President Kais Saied, the United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, and heads of delegations of 22 Arab countries in Beijing on May 30, 2024. Photo: Xinhua

Relations between China and Arab states have reached new heights recently with the interactions of top leaders continuing on Friday and more cooperation documents being signed. Analysts said that the intensified exchanges between China and Arab states will inject fresh impetus into bilateral relations, and the joint China-Arab states statement on the Palestinian issue, which voices the need to end the Gaza conflict, will help promote the seeking of a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday respectively held talks with Tunisian President Kais Saied and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who are paying state visits to China and attended the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, which was held on Thursday. 

President Xi and President Saied on Friday announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries. Consolidating and developing China-Tunisia relations conforms to the fundamental interests and common expectations of the two peoples, Xi noted, adding that China is willing to work with Tunisia to continue the traditional friendship, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and push bilateral relations to a new level.

On Friday, President Xi also held talks with Bahrain's King Hamad. The two leaders announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. 

On Thursday, Xi held talks with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. On Wednesday, Xi held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

President Xi's meetings with leaders of Arab states on Friday continued the close exchanges between the two sides, highlighting the fruitful outcomes of this round of engagements and the joint efforts of China and Arab states in building a China-Arab community with a shared future, analysts said. 

At the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, China and Arab states adopted the Beijing Declaration and an execution plan of the forum for 2024-2026. They also adopted a China-Arab states joint statement on the Palestinian issue.

While meeting with Tunisian President Saied, Xi emphasized that China's stance is highly consistent with that of the Arab countries and expressed a willingness to work with Tunisia and other Arab countries to promote a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution to the Palestinian issue based on the implementation of the two-state solution.

The full text of the joint statement of China and Arab states on the Palestinian issue was released on Friday. The text noted that relevant resolutions of the United Nations must be fully and effectively implemented and that the two sides will work together to promote an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and strive for a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution of the Palestinian issue as soon as possible.

The joint statement highlights the deep concerns of China, Arab states, and the international community regarding the dire situation in Gaza and the urgent need for a cease-fire, analysts said. 

The joint statement contains 21 points that China and Arab states have reached consensus on. It noted that both sides call for the UN Security Council to adopt a binding resolution to achieve an immediate, comprehensive, and sustained cease-fire, halt the forced transfer of Palestinians, ensure the delivery of aid throughout the Gaza Strip, and implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions to restore normal life in Gaza. Both sides condemn the US for using its veto power to prevent Palestine from becoming a full member of the UN, said the statement.

Urging Israel to stop its actions in Rafah is aimed at preventing the situation from escalating and addressing the pressing need for humanitarian aid, Liu Zhongmin, a professor with the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Friday. 

Liu said the statement aims to provide a comprehensive and multi-dimensional perspective for resolving the Palestinian issue, emphasizing the international community's shared responsibility for achieving peace and stability in the region.