Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Amr Moussa Saturday spoke highly of the Arab-Sino relations, saying that Arab leaders and officials are flocking to Asian countries including China amid a new go-east trend.

Moussa made the remarks in the Arabic-Chinese Friendship Hall at the Cairo-based AL Headquarters in an interview with Chinese media including Xinhua on the eve of the Second Ministerial Meeting of China-Arab Cooperation Forum, slated for May 31 in Beijing.

Moussa said that the AL has joined in the Chinese side in preparing for the two-day forum, which will be attended by foreign ministers or representatives of AL's 22 Arab members and Moussa himself.
 
He said that the Arab world has maintained good relations with China, as is evidenced by the hall where the interview is being conducted.

The hall decorated in typical Chinese style is indeed an easy reminder of China and its culture -- Chinese vase, wood-carving pipe, Chinese-style furniture, folding screen, tapestries sketching the Great Wall and the giant panda, and relic-like pendent lights -- all from China.

Moussa said that all these adornments and furniture were given as presents by Chinese government after Chinese President Hu Jintao paid a historic visit to the AL headquarters in January 2004.

Hu's visit opened the door for a new and special Arab-Sino relationship, said the 69-year-old Egyptian veteran diplomat who is very popular across the Arab world.

Eight months after Hu's visit, the first China-Arab forum was staged in the AL headquarters in September 2004.

Such a forum offers a golden opportunity for the Arab-Chinese cooperation, which can be materialized through regular action plans, meetings and other activities, said Moussa.

He anticipated that a further development would occur in the decades long good relations between Arab community and China with the help of the forum.

Thanks to the forum, Arab nations and China are allowed to cooperate not only on the political front, but also on economic and cultural fronts, said Moussa.

China, as a major world power and an important international player, has constantly supported Arab nations' just cause and legitimate rights, especially on the Palestinian issue, he said, noting that Arab nations value highly of the Chinese role in the region.

The AL also attaches great importance to economic cooperation with China, Moussa said, wishing such cooperation could help to facilitate the development process of the Arab world.

Since September 2004, the forum has witnessed an increasing participation of Arab entrepreneurs who Moussa said showed great interest in cooperation with Chinese counterparts on investment, trade, and technological exchanges.

The second forum, under the theme of "Developing New China-Arab Partnership", will provide a good opportunity for the expansion of trade and investment between Arab nations and China, asserted Moussa.

He said that cultural cooperation also promises a good future since both China and the Arab world -- with Pharaonic, Babylonian and Maghreb civilizations -- boast a long history and one or several unique civilizations.

The AL has high expectations from the forum, especially on its role to increase trade, expand investment and enhance technological exchanges, said Moussa, adding that Arab nations expect better trade and investment performance.

The forum is bound to push forward with the all-round cooperation between China and Arab nations to a new height and to facilitate civilization dialogues between the two sides, said Moussa.

He said that such dialogues are very important given the argument of the "clash of civilizations," which has cast much repercussion in the Arab world.

The Arab world, said Moussa, is interested in conducting dialogues with highly-valued Chinese civilization since the relations between the Arab world and China are based on mutual understanding and agreements, rather than on conflicts and groundless accusations.

The Arab world is keen on developing an all-round relations with China through mutual understanding, consultation and coordination, he said.

Moussa emphasized that the Arab world is willing to listen to China's views and stance on international issues, particularly at a time when various opinions are confusing the international community.

With the largest population, China is economically one of the most active nations in the world and has a broad and good development prospect, Moussa said, adding that China will grow into an important polar in 50 years.

As for the Taiwan question, the AL chief said that the AL has a clear stance, which is that "The world has but one China, and we only visit a China with Beijing as its capital," said Moussa.

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2006)