Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League, received Mr. Li Shulei, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Secretary of the General Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and head of its Information Department, on 19 May at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States. Mr. Li was accompanied by a high-level delegation as part of his official tour of the Arab region, which includes visits to the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Tunisia, and the Kingdom of Morocco.
Gamal Roshdy, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, stated that Mr. Li conveyed his congratulations to the Secretary-General on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the League of Arab States, and on the successful convening of the Arab Summit in Baghdad on 17 May. Mr. Li also underscored the importance of deepening and expanding Arab-Chinese cooperation across multiple fields.
The spokesperson further noted that the meeting included an exchange of views on a number of issues of mutual concern, foremost among them the Palestinian cause. The Secretary-General expressed his sincere appreciation for the principled position of the People’s Republic of China in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, as well as its broader support for Arab causes.
Mr. Aboul Gheit commended the longstanding historical ties between the Arab world and China, which are rooted in centuries of mutual respect, trust, and cooperation. He highlighted the important progress achieved since the establishment of the Arab-China Cooperation Forum in 2004 and expressed his anticipation for the convening of the second Arab-Chinese Summit in the People’s Republic of China in 2026.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Arab-Chinese Think Tank Association and advancing the procedures for signing the joint cooperation protocol annexed to the memorandum of understanding that established the Association. They also stressed the vital role of mutual translation of Arabic and Chinese publications in enhancing cultural understanding and intellectual exchange.
The spokesperson added that discussions also touched upon the Global Civilisations Initiative, which both sides consider an effective platform for fostering intercultural dialogue, facilitating joint intellectual engagement, and supporting initiatives aimed at promoting cultural diversity. The meeting concluded with the signing of the executive mechanism for the Arab-Chinese Centre for the Global Civilisations Initiative.
