China looks to strengthen ties with Netherlands, Argentina, Saudi Arabia
Beijing, The Gulf Observer: Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Monday said China is willing to strengthen the China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) strategic partnership, promote greater development of China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership and strengthen exchanges at all levels and push for new progress in China-Netherlands relations.
Qin made the remarks during separate phone talks with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Argentine counterpart Santiago Cafiero and Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra.
Promote China-Saudi Arabia, China-GCC and China-Arab relations to new levels
Noting that President Xi Jinping’s recent presence at the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-GCC Summit as well as his state visit to Saudi Arabia have scored complete success, Qin told Faisal that China is willing to work with Saudi Arabia to implement the outcomes of the summits and promote the China-Saudi Arabia, China-GCC and China-Arab relations to new levels.
China highly appreciates Saudi Arabia’s consistent and firm support on issues concerning China’s core interests and stands ready to work with Saudi Arabia to uphold non-interference in internal affairs and other basic norms of international relations, Qin noted.
He said the two sides should further expand cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, energy, infrastructure, investment, finance and high-tech, increase communication and coordination, make every effort to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era, continuously strengthen the China-GCC strategic partnership and build a China-GCC free trade zone as soon as possible.
China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Saudi Arabia in regional and international affairs, jointly promote regional peace and stability, and better safeguard the common interests of the vast developing countries, Qin said.
For his part, Faisal said Saudi Arabia regards its relations with China as an important cornerstone of its foreign relations and is willing to work with China to implement the outcomes of the summits, take joint actions, deepen cooperation in various fields, promote further development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and China, and safeguard the common interests of the two countries.
Saudi Arabia fully adheres to the one-China principle and firmly opposes the politicization of human rights issues, Faisal said, noting that his country is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China and jointly uphold the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs.
Promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Argentina
When talking with Cafiero over the phone, Qin said China will, as always, support Argentina in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that the two sides should promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
Qin congratulated Argentina on successfully hosting the seventh Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
Noting that China and Argentina are good friends and good partners, Qin said that China is willing to work with Argentina to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, carry forward the good traditions of mutual respect, treating each other as equals, and win-win cooperation between China and Argentina, and promote greater development of China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership.
Qin noted that China’s recent optimization and adjustment of pandemic prevention and control measures is a boon for enhancing communication and cooperation between China and other countries including Argentina.
China supports Argentina in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs and supports Argentina to become a member of BRICS as early as possible, Qin said.
He added that China stands ready to cooperate closely with Argentina within the framework of the United Nations and the Group of 20 to jointly promote the implementation of Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative, and promote the sustainable development of the China-CELAC Forum.
Stressing that Argentina and China share similar vision of governing for the people, Cafiero said the two countries enjoy a brotherly relationship and bilateral cooperation has yielded fruitful results.
Noting that Argentina will continue to firmly adhere to the one-China principle, Cafiero said Argentina is willing to carry out Belt and Road cooperation with China, actively promote the construction of the China-CELAC Forum, and jointly practice multilateralism.
Push for new progress in China-Netherlands relations
During the phone conversation with Hoekstra, Qin said China looks forward to working with the Netherlands to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen exchanges at all levels and push for new progress in China-Netherlands relations.
The defining feature of the China-Netherlands relationship is that it is open and practical, Qin said, adding that China is speeding up its efforts to promote high-quality development and high-level opening-up, which will bring greater opportunities to China-Netherlands cooperation.
China, Qin said, stands ready to work with the Netherlands to strengthen cooperation in multilateral areas, support the 28th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in achieving positive outcomes, maintain stability of the international industry chain and supply chain, and promote an open and orderly international trade environment rather than a fragmented and chaotic one.
For his part, Hoekstra said the Netherlands stands ready to strengthen interactions with China at all levels, deepen bilateral cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, arms control, non-proliferation and climate change, and push forward their open and practical comprehensive cooperative partnership, adding that the Dutch side will continue to handle economic and trade affairs with China in a responsible manner.
During their talks, the Dutch side invited China to attend the UN 2023 Water Conference co-hosted by it, and the Chinese side said it will send high-level delegates to the event.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Japanese government’s decision to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean. Both sides agreed that such an action concerns human health and the marine environment, on which they agreed to maintain communication.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine issue, during which Qin reiterated that China will work with relevant parties to promote peace talks.
