GCC stresses importance of strengthening Gulf-Chinese relations to serve common interests

Riyadh: Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf stressed the importance of strengthening Gulf-Chinese relations to serve common interests.

GCC Secretary-General visited China on Monday at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and expressed hope that the visit would contribute to strengthening Gulf-Chinese relations and discussing aspects of cooperation in areas of common interest, in light of the signed framework agreement for economic, investment and technical cooperation between the GCC countries and China in June 2004 in Beijing, as well as the memorandum of understanding signed in 2010.

GCC Secretary-General indicated that the visit represents an opportunity to review the areas of Gulf-Chinese cooperation and to advance and strengthen friendship and cooperation relations to serve common interests and efforts to enhance security and stability and confront challenges.

The file of free trade negotiations between the two sides for the 10th round of negotiations will also be reviewed, as well as ways to enhance investment in bilateral opportunities in common areas, especially since China is the first trading partner of the GCC.