New World Is Being Formed Based on Cooperation among Countries not on Hegemony and Wars: Shaaban

DAMASCUS, (ST)-Participants in a dialogue workshop organized by the Wathiqet Watan (A Homeland Document) Foundation have called for boosting relations with the People’s Republic of China and to enhance Beijing’s participation in the reconstruction era in Syria.  

Participants from Syria and Lebanon recommended the establishment of faculties ad institutes for teaching the Chinese language and encouraged exchanging students visits to achieve Arab-Chinese intellectual and cultural rapprochement.

 Emergence of the Chinese Power

Presidential Political and Media Advisor, Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban, who is the Head of the Wathiqet Watan Foundation’s Board of Trustees, said during the opening session that “the Arab region is going through several developments, the most important of which is the emergence of the Chinese power at the economic, political and cultural levels in addition to China’s proposals on a number of projects like the “New Silk Road”, the “One Belt One Road” Initiative, launched by the Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.”    

“The Arab region is an important part of the Chinese projects and plans,” she added, pointing out that such dialogue workshops are important as to discuss the Arab view on China’s role in the region, to come up with certain visions that provide the process of decision making with what serves orientation towards China and to enable Arab communities to strengthen relations with China and benefit from its experiences.

Shaaban went on to say that “today, we are experiencing a historical turning point in which facts are being revealed. A new world is being formed based on academic and technical cooperation among countries not on hegemony and wars.”  

“Here comes our role in conveying and disseminating the eastern culture and in encouraging societies to go in this direction, she clarified, pointing out that the US practices in the Middle East are a clear-cut evidence about America’s colonialist hegemony that should make the Arabs reconsider their relations with such regimes.

60% of China’s oil and gas imports are from Middle East

On his part the Chinese Ambassador in Damascus Qi Qianjin said that such meeting are a good opportunity to exchange ideas and suggestions, adding that his country’s interests lie in orienting towards the Middle East, particularly because “60% of China’s oil and gas imports are from this region.”

He went on to say that the United States is trying by all means to use any economic or strategic measures to limit China’s development, noting the partnership initiative proposed by his country to transform into the hugest international cooperation platform.

He pointed out that “events in the Middle East and the lack of security in some countries don’t make China forget this region, particularly Syria, which is a big party in the partnership initiative.” He expressed hope that the Syrian government will be able to provide a safe environment for trade based on transparency and equality.

  Hamda Mustafa