China and Arab countries on Friday set up a China-Arab states cooperation forum and issued a declaration on the forum, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Secretary-General of the League of Arab States (LAS) Amr Mahmoud Moussa announced at the LAS headquarters in Cairo.  

Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is currently on a state visit to Egypt, had just held a meeting with Moussa and Arab states' representatives at the LAS, Li told a joint news conference with Moussa.

During the meeting, they had an in-depth exchange of views on ways of strengthening and developing China-Arab relations under new circumstances, Li said.

China highly appreciates the efforts of Arab states and the LAS towards the establishment of the forum, he said.

He pointed out that the establishment of the forum is the result of joint efforts by China and Arab states and marks a milestone in the history of friendly and cooperative relations between China and Arab states.

The establishment of the forum will further enrich the China-Arab relationship, help consolidate and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of politics, trade and economy, science and technology, culture, education and health, and raise the level of cooperation between the two sides in an all-around way, the Chinese foreign minister noted.

(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2004)