The Global South Media and Think Tank Forum’s Chinese-Arab Partnership Conference officially opened on Tuesday at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo.
This two-day event brought together about 250 representatives from 110 media outlets, think tanks, government offices, and businesses, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Participants came from China, various Arab countries, and several international organisations. They gathered under a theme focused on “pooling wisdom” to build a stronger, shared future between China and the Arab world.
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, spoke at the start of the event about the many challenges facing developing countries in the Global South.
He praised the ideas put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, noting that these initiatives help make international relations more fair, bridge the gap between rich and poor nations, and help solve global crises through peaceful talk.
He emphasised that it is now urgent for media and think tanks to work together to create a more just world and build stronger emotional bonds between the Chinese and Arab people.
He believes this forum is a major step in making these organisations a main pillar of their friendship.
Fu Hua, the President of Xinhua News Agency, also addressed the crowd, stating that the relationship between China and Arab nations has entered its best period in history.
He explained that strategic trust is growing, and co-operation is expanding into many different fields.
Fu highlighted that media and think tanks are essential because they give people a voice and provide the intellectual ideas needed to connect different cultures.
He pledged that Xinhua would continue to explain President Xi’s global goals and show the real-world examples of how China and Arab countries are working together in practical ways.
The Chinese Ambassador to Egypt, Liao Liqiang, reminded everyone that this year marks 70 years since China and Arab nations first established diplomatic ties. He looked back at a speech President Xi gave in the same hall ten years ago regarding peace in the Middle East and noted that China recently proposed a new four-point plan to keep the region stable.
The ambassador expressed his belief that this forum would allow both sides to share their experiences on how to govern effectively, which will help their traditional friendship grow even deeper as they walk together toward a better future.
Throughout the event, guests remarked that China and Arab countries are leading members of the Global South and serve as a model for how developing nations can support each other.
To celebrate this connection, Fu Hua presented the Arab League with an Arabic version of a book about President Xi’s leadership and governance.
The opening ceremony also included a special art exhibition about the history of the Silk Road and an awards ceremony for communication partners.
