Roundup: Scholars hail China's policy paper on ties with Arab world

Scholars in the Arab countries have praised the newly released policy paper by China defining its visions on ties with the Arab world.

Ferhat Ait Ali, an Algerian financial analyst and political expert, noted foremost China's affirmation of the respect of characteristics of each state and nation in the Arab world.

"Affirming its intention to cooperate with each of these states taking into account their local characteristics, China makes sure to reiterate its rejection to extremism, ostracism and the spread of ideas contrary to good neighborhood with the rest of mankind," said the expert.

Ali appreciated that China does not perceive the Arab region as a market or a source of intrinsic commodity, but rather a new place of potential economic forces.

The importance of China's first document on ties with Arabs is that it provides a clear vision and a specific framework for the Arab-Chinese ties and the Chinese policy toward the Arab world, said Emad Eddin Hussein, political expert and editor-in-chief of Shorouk newspaper based in Cairo.

"There is a heritage of distinguished human relations and favorable sentiments and friendliness between the Chinese and the Arabs," said Hussein.

The document refers to the reality of vast common interests between China and the Arab world based on the depth of their historical ties.

China does not have colonial history in the Arab region nor does it have any issues or conflicts with the Arabs, unlike many Western countries such as the United States, Britain, France and others, he said.

"The positive mental image of China in the eyes of Arabs reassures Arabs about China as a strong strategic partner without fearing any kind of hegemony," he added.

China has always spoken for political solutions for regional disputes, which won acclaims from the Palestinian side, said Palestinian political analyst Samer Anabtawi.

The Arab world is now in hardship and turmoil, and the timing of the Chinese government in releasing such a policy paper, stressing its efforts to deepen strategic cooperation with the region is of great significance, said Anabtawi.

The Chinese government issued on Wednesday a policy paper to review and summarize the development of China-Arab ties.

The policy paper stipulates the guiding principle for developing China-Arab relations, offers the blueprint for China-Arab mutually beneficial cooperation, and reiterates the political will of commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East, in order to promote China-Arab relations to a new and higher level. Endi