Arab Writers Union in Syria participates in the 1st Conference of China-Arab Think Tank Alliance

With the participation of Syria and delegations from 22 Arab countries, the first conference of the China-Arab Think Tank Alliance was recently held in Shanghai Municipality, to discuss issues such as China-Arab high-quality development, high-standard opening-up cooperation and the Palestinian question.

Chinese vice Foreign Minister Deng Li said that the alliance is the result of deepening traditional friendly relations and political mutual trust between China and Arab nations. He emphasized that it serves as an important measure for jointly meeting challenges and creating a better future.

The alliance is expected to focus on five key goals including serving development, supporting cooperation, promoting peace, calling for justice and expanding exchanges, said Deng.

Deng called on think tanks from both sides to raise common voices on the Palestine question and other issues, offer solutions for long-term peace and stability in the region, and work toward a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early stage.

Ahmed Rachid Khattabi, assistant secretary-general of the League of Arab States, along with other Arab representatives, commended China’s development achievements and expressed their hope further deepening cooperation with China and working together toward modernization.

The head of the Arab Writers Union in Syria, Dr. Muhammad Al-Hourani, thanked the Chinese side for including the union among the first batch of intellectual and cultural institutions of the China-Arab League.

Al-Hourani called for developing friendly relations between Arab cultural institutions and their counterparts in China, based on the absolute belief in the necessity of activating the work of these institutions in Asia, Africa and the Middle East to play their role in protecting cultural identity and maintaining and activating cultural pluralism.

He said:”the strategic partnership between Arabs and China must be deepened, especially with the presence of many cultural characteristics and commonalities”.

Al-Hourani expressed his hope to establish a branch of the Chinese Confucius Institute in Syria, given the positive role that the center can play in cultural and civilizational rapprochement, especially since it represents the spirit and culture of the East in its most beautiful form.

Arab representatives also praised China’s contributions to promoting regional peace, including its efforts in the Palestinian question.

China-Arab Think Tank Alliance was established in January 2024.