Xi's GCC & Arab States Summit Speeches - China-Arab States' 8-Major Joint Actions
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Saturday, December 10, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Today’s paper is basically about Xi Jinping’s visit to Saudi Arabia. On the front page the stories are about Xi’s speeches at the China-Arab States summit and the China-GCC summit. Let’s first look at the speech at the GCC Summit. The report in PD is basically drawn from the speech (English version of the report), but there are also comments from MBS. The interesting thing about the report is that MBS lauds GDI but does not mention GSI. Anyway, here’s a breakdown of Xi’s speech (English text)
Xi talked about working together via GDI, GSI and the need to “consolidate political mutual trust and firmly support each other's core interests. We need to jointly uphold the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, practice true multilateralism, and defend the common interests of all developing countries.”
He then identified the following priority areas:
“First, setting up a new paradigm of all-dimensional energy cooperation. China will continue to import large quantities of crude oil on a long-term basis from GCC countries, and purchase more LNG. We will strengthen our cooperation in the upstream sector, engineering services, as well as storage, transportation and refinery of oil and gas. The Shanghai Petroleum and Natural Gas Exchange platform will be fully utilized for RMB settlement in oil and gas trade. The two sides will work more closely on clean and low-carbon technologies involving hydrogen, energy storage, wind and photovoltaic power and smart power grids, as well as localized production of new energy equipment. We will jointly establish a China-GCC forum on peaceful use of nuclear technology and a China-GCC nuclear security demonstration center. China will provide 300 training opportunities to GCC countries on peaceful use of nuclear energy and technology.”
Second, making new progress in finance and investment cooperation. China and GCC countries could collaborate on financial regulation and facilitate the entry into China's capital market for GCC companies. China will work with the GCC to set up a joint investment commission and support cooperation between sovereign wealth funds from both sides in various forms. The two sides could explore setting up a China-GCC forum on industrial and investment cooperation, strengthen investment cooperation on digital economy and green development, and build a working mechanism on investment and economic cooperation. The two sides could start currency swap cooperation, deepen digital currency cooperation and advance the m-CBDC Bridge project.
China is ready to build big data and cloud computing centers with GCC countries, strengthen 5G and 6G technology cooperation, build together innovation and entrepreneurship incubators, and implement ten digital economy projects in such areas as cross-border e-commerce and communications network. A China-GCC cooperation mechanism in meteorological science and technology will be set up, and the two sides could convene a seminar on climate response.
China will carry out a string of cooperation projects with GCC countries in remote sensing and communications satellite, space utilization, and aerospace infrastructure. The two sides could select and train astronauts together, and China welcomes GCC astronauts to its space station for joint missions and space science experiments with their Chinese colleagues. China welcomes GCC countries' participation in payloads cooperation in its aerospace missions including Chang'e and Tianwen, and will consider establishing a China-GCC joint center for lunar and deep space exploration.
China will cooperate with 300 universities, middle and primary schools in GCC countries on Chinese language education, work with GCC countries to set up 300 Chinese language smart classrooms, provide 3,000 ‘Chinese Bridge’ summer/winter camp opportunities, and set up Chinese language learning and testing centers and online Chinese classes. The two sides could hold a China-GCC language and culture forum, and compile a bilingual library for people-to-people and cultural exchanges and mutual learning.
After the summit, there was a Joint Statement of the Summit of the People's Republic of China and the Gulf Cooperation Council that was issued and an Action Plan for the Strategic Dialogue between the People's Republic of China and the Gulf Cooperation Council from 2023 to 2027 was finalised.
Next, let’s look at Xi’s speech at the China-Arab States Summit (English text). The PD report is also basically a reiteration of the speech, along with a paragraph on the reactions from the Arab side.
It says that the Arab states “highly appreciate” China’s BRI, GDI and GSI, and China’s “important proposals for the political settlement of regional hotspot issues.” 阿方高度重视中国取得的伟大发展成就和在国际上发挥的重要作用，高度赞赏中方提出“一带一路”、全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议，高度肯定中方为推动政治解决地区热点问题提出的重要主张，并始终支持巴勒斯坦人民的合法权益，在国际上主持公道正义.
“At present, the world is facing the danger of division and confrontation, and unilateralism and hegemonism still exist. Deepening the Arab-Chinese strategic partnership is conducive to better realising fairness and justice and safeguarding world peace, prosperity and development.” 当前世界面临分裂对抗的危险，单边主义、霸权主义依然存在，深化阿中战略伙伴关系，有利于更好实现公平正义，维护世界和平与繁荣发展.
The Arab side adheres to independence and firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and is willing to continue to give firm support to China on issues involving China's core interests and oppose any hostile acts against China…The Arab side hopes to work with the Chinese side to implement the outcomes of the summit, promote the ‘eight major joint actions’, continue to jointly build BRI, strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional affairs, cooperate to address common challenges such as climate change, food security, and energy security, and strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, promote dialogue among civilisations, and make positive contributions to the promotion of peace and common development of all mankind.” 当前世界面临分裂对抗的危险，单边主义、霸权主义依然存在，深化阿中战略伙伴关系，有利于更好实现公平正义，维护世界和平与繁荣发展...阿方坚持独立自主，坚定恪守一个中国原则，愿在涉及中方核心利益问题上继续给予中国坚定支持，反对任何针对中国的敌对行为。阿方希同中方落实好此次峰会成果，推进“八大共同行动”，持续共建“一带一路”，就国际地区事务加强沟通协调，合作应对气候变化、粮食安全、能源安全等共同挑战，加强人文交流，促进文明对话，为促进全人类和平和共同发展作出积极贡献.
In his speech, Xi said:
“China and Arab states have set an example for South-South cooperation in pursuing mutually beneficial collaboration. The two sides have established 17 cooperation mechanisms under the framework of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. Over the past decade, our trade has grown by 100 billion U.S. dollars, with the total volume exceeding 300 billion dollars; China's direct investment in Arab states was up by 2.6 times, with the stock of investment reaching 23 billion dollars; over 200 Belt and Road projects have been carried out, benefiting nearly two billion people of the two sides.”
He added:
“We should stay independent and defend our common interests. China supports Arab states in independently exploring development paths suited to their national conditions and holding their future firmly in their own hands. China is ready to deepen strategic mutual trust with Arab states, and firmly support each other in safeguarding sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity. Our two sides should jointly uphold the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, practice true multilateralism, and defend the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.”
“We should focus on economic development and promote win-win cooperation.” In this he talks about BRI and GDI.
“We should uphold regional peace and strive for common security … China urges the international community to respect the role of the Middle East people as masters of their own affairs, and add positive energy to the security and stability of the region. China welcomes the Arab side to participate in the Global Security Initiative (GSI)...”
“We should increase exchanges among civilisations to enhance mutual understanding and trust…We need to jointly oppose Islamophobia, carry out cooperation on deradicalisation, and reject association of terrorism with any particular ethnic group or religion. We need to advocate humanity's common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, and set an example of inter-civilisational exchanges and mutual learning in the new era.”
He talked about the formulation of the Outline of the Comprehensive Cooperation Plan Between China and Arab States, and said that “China will, in the next three to five years, work with the Arab side to advance eight major cooperation initiatives in areas including development support, food security, public health, green innovation, energy security, inter-civilisational dialogue, youth development, and security and stability.”
After this, he talked about the Palestinian issue:
“The Palestinian issue bears on peace and stability in the Middle East. The historical injustices done to the Palestinian people should not be left unattended indefinitely. The legitimate rights and interests of a nation are not up for trade, and the demand to establish an independent state shall not be denied. The international community should stay firm in its commitment to the two-state solution and the principle of ‘land for peace’, make resolute efforts to promote peace talks, provide more humanitarian and development assistance to Palestine, and strive for a just settlement of the Palestinian issue at an early date. Recently, through the efforts of Arab states, important progress has been made in Intra-Palestinian reconciliation. China welcomes these developments. I would like to reiterate that China firmly supports the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 border and with East Jerusalem as its capital. China supports Palestine in becoming a full member of the United Nations, and will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestine, support livelihood projects in the country, and increase donations to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).”
Finally, there’s a report on the page detailing the 8 major joint actions. These are:
Development action: China will discuss with the Arab side the implementation of development cooperation and assistance projects with a total amount of 5 billion yuan, and include 30 qualified Arab projects in the GDI project list; China will seek to extend credit support for Arab states for projects in production capacity, infrastructure, energy and green finance and will support AIIB to provide more high-quality, low-cost and sustainable infrastructure investment. according to the progress of the exchange of letters, zero-tariff treatment will be given to 98 percent of the products of the least developed countries in Arab states; provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Palestine, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and other countries; strive to reach a trade volume of $430 billion by 2027. 一是支持发展共同行动。中方将同阿方探讨实施总额为50亿元人民币的发展合作援助项目，将30个具备条件的阿国项目纳入全球发展倡议项目库；结合阿方产能、基础设施、能源、绿色金融等领域项目融资需求，向阿方提供信贷和授信支持，支持亚洲基础设施投资银行向阿方提供更多高质量、低成本、可持续的基础设施投资；根据换文进展，给予阿方中最不发达国家98%税目产品零关税待遇；向巴勒斯坦、也门、黎巴嫩、叙利亚等国提供人道主义和重建援助；力争2027年中阿贸易额达到4300亿美元.
Food security action: China is willing to help Arab countries strengthen food security level and enhance their comprehensive agricultural production capacity; build five modern agricultural joint laboratories with Arab countries, carry out 50 agricultural technology cooperation demonstration projects, and send 500 agricultural technical experts to Arab states to help them increase grain output, improve storage capacity and quality to reduce losses during storage, and improve agricultural production efficiency; establish a ‘green channel’ for high-quality agricultural and food products to be exported from Arab states to China. 二是粮食安全共同行动。中方愿帮助阿方增强粮食安全水平，提升农业综合生产能力；同阿方共建5个现代农业联合实验室，开展50个农业技术合作示范项目，向阿方派遣500名农业技术专家，帮助阿方增加粮食产量、提高收储减损能力、提升农业生产效率；为阿方优质农食产品建立输华准入“绿色通道”.
Health action: The Chinese side is willing to work with the Arab side to build a public health science and technology cooperation centre and a vaccine innovation and R&D cooperation alliance; it will implement 5 TCM cooperation projects, continue to send Chinese medical teams to work in Arab states, and perform 2,000 free cataract surgery to provide the people of Arab states with telemedicine services. 三是卫生健康共同行动。中方愿同阿方共建公共卫生科技合作中心和疫苗创新与研发合作联盟，在阿国实施5个中医药合作项目，继续派遣中国医疗队到阿国工作，实施2000例白内障义诊手术，为阿国民众提供远程医疗健康服务。
Green Innovation action: China is willing to set up the China-Arab International Research Center on drought, desertification and land degradation and implement 5 South-South cooperation projects on climate change. China’s Fengyun Meteorological Satellite and Beijing World Meteorological Center will be used to support the Arab side in disaster prevention and mitigation. A new China-Arab Beidou Application Industry Promotion Center will be set up to provide quality services for the Arab side in the fields of transportation, precision agriculture, search and rescue, etc. Jointly build a number of joint laboratories or R&D cooperation centres with Arab states in the fields of life and health, artificial intelligence, green and low-carbon technologies, information and communication, and space information, and provide 300 advanced and applicable technologies to Arab states. 四是绿色创新共同行动。中方愿同阿方设立中阿干旱、荒漠化和土地退化国际研究中心，实施5个应对气候变化南南合作项目；利用中国风云气象卫星和北京世界气象中心，支持阿方防灾减灾；愿同阿方设立中阿北斗应用产业促进中心，为阿方在交通运输、精准农业、搜索救援等领域提供优质服务；同阿方在生命健康、人工智能、绿色低碳、信息通信、空间信息等领域共建一批联合实验室或研发合作中心，向阿方提供300项先进适用技术.
Energy security action: “China will work to build a Sino-Arab Clean Energy Cooperation Center, support Chinese energy companies and financial institutions to participate in renewable energy projects with a total installed capacity of more than 5 million kilowatts across Arab states; China will carry out energy technology research and development cooperation with Arab states, and strengthen energy policy coordination in order promote the establishment of a fair, just, balanced and inclusive global energy governance system.” 中方愿同阿方共建中阿清洁能源合作中心，支持中国能源企业和金融机构在阿国参与总装机容量超过500万千瓦的可再生能源项目，同阿方开展能源科技研发合作，加强能源政策协调，推动建立公平公正、均衡普惠的全球能源治理体系。
Civilisation Dialogue Action: China will invite 1,000 individuals from Arab political parties, parliaments, media, think tanks and other domains to visit China for exchanges; it will promote cooperation between 500 Chinese and Arab cultural and tourism enterprises and train 1,000 cultural and tourism talents for Arab countries; China and Arab states will work together on the translation of 50 audio and visual program cooperation projects; it will continue to strengthen the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development, and enhance the dialogue between civilisations and exchanges in terms of governance experiences. 六是文明对话共同行动。中方将邀请阿方1000名政党、议会、媒体、智库等人士来华交流；推动500家中阿文化和旅游企业开展合作，为阿国培养1000名文化和旅游人才；同阿方共同实施百部典籍互译工程和50部视听节目合作工程；持续做强中阿改革发展研究中心，增进文明对话和治国理政经验交流.
Joint action related to youth: China will hold the China-Arab Youth Development Forum and launch the ‘China-Arab Universities 10+10 Cooperation Plan’; it will invite 100 young scientists from the Arab side to conduct scientific research exchanges in China, invite 3,000 young people to participate in cultural exchanges between China and Arab countries, and invite 10,000 Arab talents to participate in professional training in poverty alleviation, health care, green development and other fields; it will promote the construction of more Luban workshops in the Arab world. 七是青年成才共同行动。中方将举办中阿青年发展论坛，启动“中阿高校10+10合作计划”；邀请阿方100名青年科学家来华开展科研交流，邀请3000名青少年参与中阿文化交流，邀请1万名阿拉伯人才参加扶贫减贫、卫生健康、绿色发展等领域专业培训；推动在阿国建设更多鲁班工坊。
Security and stability action: The Chinese side will work with Arab states to strengthen strategic dialogues between defence departments and academics, deepen cooperation in areas such as maritime security, international peacekeeping, and professional technology, and expand joint exercises and personnel training; it will train 1,500 people for Arab states on network security. China will work with Arab states in implementing the ‘China-Arab Data Security Cooperation Initiative’, establish a China-Arab network information exchange mechanism, and strengthen exchanges and dialogues in areas such as data governance and network security. 八是安全稳定共同行动。中方将同阿方加强防务部门和军队间的战略对话、军兵种交往、院校交流，深化海上安全、国际维和、专业技术等领域合作，拓展联演联训和人员培训；为阿方培训1500名智慧警务建设、网络安全执法等领域人员；共同落实《中阿数据安全合作倡议》，建立中阿网信交流机制，加强数据治理、网络安全等领域交流对话.
The subsequent pages carry reports on Xi’s bilateral meetings; I am not doing a breakdown of each of these. But you can find the English reports on Xinhua’s website.
The last thing that I am highlighting is the Riyadh Declaration (an English text) after the China-Arab States summit. It supports GDI and GSI and also carries strong language on the Israel-Palestine issue, calling it the “central issue” in the region and a “two-state solution, through ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.” It also talks about Arab states’ support for the “one-China principle” and China’s position on Hong Kong.
On the Ukraine war, the document says that the parties “support efforts to find a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis and restore peace and security in accordance with international law, the principles of the United Nations Charter, the principles of good neighbourliness, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, in a way that guarantees the fundamental interests of all parties.”
It also calls for opposing interference in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of safeguarding democracy.
The statement also adds:
“Strengthen efforts to combat terrorism, condemning terrorism in all its forms, images and motives, and the need to combat it and not link it to any race, religion, nationality or civilisation, uprooting its roots and drying up its sources, in addition to rejecting ‘double standards; in combating terrorism. Promoting dialogue among civilisations and respecting different cultures, rejecting claims of hatred, extremism and clash of civilisations between followers of religions and cultures, emphasising opposition to Islamophobia in all its forms, and emphasising that the Arab and Chinese civilisations have made unique contributions to the progress of human civilisation and are keen to continue calling for dialogue and communication between civilisations, preserving global cultural diversity, rejecting discrimination and prejudice against a particular civilisation, and rejecting the theory of the clash of civilisations.”