Ashraf AboArafe
Before concluding his visit to China, Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, visited the city of Shanghai, after participating in the tenth session of the ministerial meeting of the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum in the capital, Beijing.
The forum concluded its work successfully with the broad participation of foreign ministers from Arab countries and China, in addition to the presence of Arab leaders and the Chinese President at its opening session.
Aboul Gheit headed to the city of Shanghai, in response to an invitation from the Chinese side, to participate in the ceremony of giving the starting signal for the construction of the headquarters of the China-Arab Studies Center (CASC) for Reform and Development, which will be completed within 100 days.
Jamal Rushdi, the official spokesman for the Secretary-General, stated that the center represents an important initiative by the Chinese side to strengthen cultural, academic and scientific relations with the Arab side, as well as transferring expertise in governance, administration and development, indicating that the Chinese government is making a great effort to make this center a starting point for all aspects of cooperation. It is an incubator for ideas and experiences related to development in all its aspects. Chinese President Xi Jinping was keen to stress the importance of the center’s role in strengthening relations between the Arab and Chinese sides during the important speech he delivered at the opening of the Tenth Arab-Chinese Forum two days ago.
The official spokesman added that Aboul Gheit attended the countdown ceremony to the completion of the construction of the center’s basic structure, which includes 17 floors, alongside Mr. Zhai Jun, the Chinese envoy for Middle Eastern affairs, and Ms. Yin Dingmei, Dean of Shanghai University of International Studies.
During the launch ceremony, the Secretary-General praised the center’s various activities, especially the periodic training courses it provides for officials from both Arab countries and the Arab League, as part of the efforts of both sides to advance Arab-Chinese cooperation to broader horizons.
It is worth noting that the China-Arab Studies Center for Reform and Development was opened in 2017 at Shanghai International Studies University in order to enhance studies related to Arab-Chinese cooperation, in addition to holding study courses, seminars, and lectures for senior officials in Arab countries on several topics, including global development, the Belt and Road, and establishing a society. The common future of humanity.
It is also worth noting that the Secretary-General of the Arab League visited a number of important scientific and technological centers in Shanghai, and also met with Mr. Hua Yuan, Deputy Mayor of the city, where Aboul Gheit expressed his admiration for the tremendous economic renaissance that Shanghai has achieved over the course of a few decades, with the success in maintaining… A distinctive human and cultural character that reflects the city’s unique historical legacy. Aboul Gheit stressed that the possibilities for cooperation and exchange of experiences and practices with the Arab side in the future are limitless.
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