15 September 2021
The Kingdom of Bahrain Participates the Ninth Symposium on China-Arab Relations and China-Arab Civilization Dialogue of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum
His Excellency Ambassador Waleed Al-Rifai, International Relations Advisor at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), attended, on behalf of H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, President of Bahrain’s Culture Authority, on 14 September 2021, via webinar video online platform, the Ninth Symposium on China-Arab Relations and China-Arab Civilization Dialogue, held in Beijing this year. Ambassadors of Arab countries, as well as, Chinese experts and delegates attended the symposium, which was held under the theme of "China-Arab civilization exchanges against the backdrop of building a community with a shared future".
The symposium highlighted the need to enhance and anchor deeper the Arab-Chinese relations in general, as well, promoting and boosting cooperation domains and cultural exchange between both parties. His Excellency Ambassador Walid Al-Rifaie, intervened in the second part theme of the symposium titled “Enhancing Dialogue between the Chinese-Arab Ancient Civilizations” to convey the cordial greetings of H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, President of Bahrain’s Culture Authority to the participants and H.E’s sincere wishes for the success of the forum works. Al-Rifaie asserted that the forum comes amid exceptional circumstances dictated by the pandemic, entailing all continuous cooperation relations and mutual support to overcome its devastating health and economic impacts. In addition, Al-Rifaie lauded the efforts of the Arab League Secretariat, Arab countries and the friendly Chinese Popular Republic concerned authorities and its embassy in Bahrain for their fruitful cooperation and follow-up to make this symposium an amazing successful event.
Speaking on behalf of Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, Al-Rifaie asserted that the Kingdom of Bahrain attaches high importance to the historical Arab-Chinese relations and how the two sides should strengthen dialogue between the two ancient civilizations to inject lasting impetus into the development of China-Arab relations. Indeed, given this strategic future objective, and that China and Bahrain enjoy a deep traditional friendship since the establishment of diplomatic ties, signed, in the presence of Chinese Foreign Minister during his official visit to Bahrain, March 2021, an Agreement on the Reciprocal Establishment of Cultural Centers in China and Bahrain and the implementation plan of the cultural cooperation between the two countries, Mr. Al-Riffaie added. There is no doubt that the above-mentioned agreement will contribute to achieve a sustainable cultural scene, strengthen relations between both peoples, and enhance both countries historical presence reciprocally and common cordial entente and amity ties that serve as a solid platform to achieve a shared cooperation vision and mutual interests.
His Excellency ambassador Mr. Walid Al-Rifaie also praised the Bahraini-Chinese common efforts to improve bilateral relations, adding that both sides are eyeing to ramp up future joint endeavors, as part of pioneering Belt and Silk Road initiative that would strengthen people-to-people ties, achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals, uphold the values of equality, mutual respect and learning, tolerance, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
In addition, His Excellency ambassador Mr. Walid Al-Rifaie called on both sides to enlarge and increase intensively a series of promotional activities to boost two-way quality tourism tourism flows and strengthen people-to-people bonds, consolidate inter-civilization exchanges, building cooperation and coordination channels, exchange expertise and experiences through common periodical cultural programs, aimed at setting a good example of harmonious coexistence between two deeply-rooted great Arab-Chinese civilizations. Indeed, all delegates believed, against the background of profound changes in the current international and regional situation, China and Arab States should adhere to mutual respect and treat each other as equals, jointly oppose terrorism and extremism, jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthen exchange of experience in state governance and administration and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
Moreover, the symposium also shed lights on two essential themes, namely solidarity, tolerance and mutual respect, whereby The participants agreed that the two sides should foster a sense of community with a shared future, discard ideological bias, avoid clash of civilizations, respect the development paths of countries based on their national conditions and practices, advocate dialogue on an equal footing on the basis of solidarity and inclusiveness, and consolidate inter-civilization exchanges. The two sides should strengthen people-to-people ties, carry forward the Silk Road spirit, lay a solid cultural foundation for China-Arab cooperation, and promote high-quality BRI cooperation.
