| Action Plan of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum (2008-2010) | ||||||
The People's Republic of China and the League of Arab States (hereinafter referred to as "the two sides") reviewed with satisfaction the positive contribution of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum (hereinafter referred to as "the Forum") to deeper political trust, enhanced dialogue and cooperation and stronger ties between China and the Arab states. The two sides gave a positive assessment of the implementation of the Communiqué of the Second Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum and the Action Plan of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum (2006-2008). They applauded the positive effect on China-Arab relations of a series of meetings under the framework of the Forum, including the Second China-Arab Business Conference, the Fourth Senior Officials Meeting, the Second Symposium on China-Arab Relations and China-Arab Civilization Dialogue, the First China-Arab Friendship Conference, the First China-Arab Conference on Energy Cooperation and the First Forum on Media Cooperation. They emphasized the importance of continued implementation of the aims and requirements of the aforementioned Communiqué and Action Plan as well as the documents adopted at the Third Ministerial Conference of the Forum. For the purposes of fully implementing the abovementioned documents and building a new type of partnership between China and Arab states, the two sides agreed to formulate the Action Plan of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum (2008-2010) as follows: Article I. Forum Mechanisms The two sides emphasize the necessity and importance of the Ministerial Meeting, Senior Officials Committee, various liaison mechanisms within the framework of the Forum and existing cooperation mechanisms, and strongly applaud their contribution to the Forum's development. Article II. Political Cooperation The two sides reaffirm their commitment to the principled positions set forth in the Declaration of China-Arab Cooperation Forum and Action Plan of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum, and stress the importance of greater political cooperation. They agree to enhance the existing mechanisms for political consultation and liaison. In particular, the political consultations under the framework of the Senior Officials Meeting, whose topics are agreed in advance by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the Secretariat of the League of Arab States, provide an opportunity for discussing relations between China and Arab states and international and regional issues of common interest. The two sides agree to convene the Senior Officials Meeting for political consultations whenever necessary. Article III. Economic Cooperation and Trade The two sides express satisfaction at the progress in China-Arab economic cooperation and trade in recent years, and give positive assessment of the two successful China-Arab business conferences held respectively in Beijing, China and Amman, Jordan and the Seminar on China-Arab Economic Cooperation and Trade held in Xiamen, China. They call for fresh measures to expand trade and mutual investment, provide better conditions for market access within their respective institutional and legal frameworks, conduct exchanges of managerial expertise, develop cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises and strengthen information sharing and cooperation in business areas. For these purposes, the two sides agree to: (1) Continue to hold trade and investment promotion activities, encourage their enterprises to participate in or organize exhibitions in one another's country and provide necessary information and convenience to facilitate these efforts. China welcomes the enterprises of Arab states to promote their products at exhibitions in China. (2) Continue to encourage exchanges between businessmen and provide convenience for their entry and exit as well as business activities under existing legal and institutional frameworks of the two sides. (3) Continue to strengthen the business conference mechanism. The Third China-Arab Business Conference is scheduled for 2009 in China and the fourth conference will be hosted by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bahrain in 2011. (4) Strengthen investment cooperation. The two sides agree to host investment seminars alternately in conjunction with the business conference mechanism. China will continue to host China-Arab investment seminar on the sidelines of the China International Fair for Investment and Trade in Xiamen, and encourages interested Arab states to host such seminar in the future. (5) Promote cooperation between quality inspection, product standards and quarantine agencies of the two sides, and establish a China-Arab joint committee to identify and implement joint projects in this area. (6) Strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the chambers of commerce, industrial associations and other economic and trade organizations of the two sides. (7) Encourage diverse forms of exchanges and technical cooperation between the customs, taxation, industrial and agricultural departments of the two sides, and actively encourage cooperation between the relevant Chinese agencies and specialized economic organizations of the League of Arab States. (8) Work together to establish an open, fair and orderly multilateral trading regime and reform and improve the international financial regime, so as to safeguard the common interests of both sides. Article IV. Energy Cooperation 1. The two sides commit themselves to deeper energy cooperation, particularly in the areas of petroleum, natural gas, electrical power as well as new, renewable and alternative energy sources. They support mutual investment in the abovementioned areas and are willing to facilitate joint energy projects. The two sides will continue to carry out experience sharing and technology transfer in energy projects and the environmental dimension of such projects, and will look into the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding in the future. 2. The two sides applaud the First China-Arab Conference on Energy Cooperation held in Sanya, Hainan Province in January 2008 and the Joint Statement adopted at the Conference, and are resolved to actively implement the principles and requirements of the Joint Statement. The two sides look forward to the Second China-Arab Conference on Energy Cooperation in Khartoum, the capital of the Republic of Sudan, in 2010. Article V. Cooperation in Environmental Protection 1. The two sides emphasize the importance of their cooperation in environmental protection and sustainable development, and welcome the Joint Communiqué Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the League of Arab States on Cooperation in Environmental Protection signed in Beijing in June 2006. They agree to set up an environmental cooperation mechanism, whose work will be coordinated by the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Secretariat of the League of Arab States as well as the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment. The two sides agree to the Action Plan for Cooperation in Environmental Protection Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the League of Arab States (2008-2009), and will actively carry out activities envisaged in the Action Plan. They are glad that the first of such activities will be organized by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 2. The two sides stand ready to share policy approaches and legislative experience, conduct training, promote environment-related technology and products and exchange information in this area, and maintain coordination in relevant international and regional organizations under the China-Arab environmental cooperation mechanism. 3. The two sides emphasize their willingness to promote exchanges and cooperation in combating desertification, encourage mutual visits by experts and managerial personnel, and share experience in legislative, law enforcing and supervisory efforts against desertification. China is willing to take part in ecological rehabilitation projects in Arab states, set up anti-desertification pilot zones there, and help them establish systems to protect roads, railways and residential communities in oases from this menace. Article VI. Agricultural Cooperation 1. The two sides stand ready to expand exchanges and cooperation in agriculture, increase mutual visits between leading agricultural officials, improve information sharing, promote professional exchanges in farming and animal husbandry, and encourage interested and established agribusinesses of the two sides to develop business ties. 2. The two sides will promote trade in agricultural products and provide convenience for the market entry of quality agricultural products from the other side. Article VII. Tourism Cooperation The two sides express satisfaction at their tourism cooperation in recent years and stand ready to expand such cooperation. They will encourage contacts between their tourism authorities and hold tourism promotion fairs and seminars on tourism. China will give positive consideration to approving Arab states as destinations for Chinese group tourists. Article VIII. Cooperation in Human Resources Development 1. The two sides express satisfaction with their cooperation in human resources development in recent years, and are willing to strengthen cooperation in this field. 2. China will provide 1,000 training opportunities for Arab countries each year from 2008 to 2010 in the fields agreed by the two sides. Invitations to the training workshops will be extended to competent departments of countries concerned in good time via Chinese embassies in Arab countries so that people concerned can be informed. Article IX. Cultural Cooperation and Inter-Civilization Dialogue 1. The two sides agree to continue to develop and enhance bilateral and multilateral cultural cooperation and exchanges, such as exhibitions, cultural performances, cultural days, cultural weeks and other cultural activities, believing that these activities foster greater mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two sides. The two sides encourage exchanges and cooperation between China's Ministry of Culture and its Arab counterparts and cultural agencies. The large-scale cultural activity "Arabian Night" will be held in China in June 2008 within the framework of the Forum and in support of the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing. 2. The two sides highly appraise the Arab cultural activities held in China in 2006, and agree to set up a mechanism of holding cultural festivals in China and Arab countries, whereby Arab arts festivals and Chinese arts festivals are held alternately in China and Arab countries every two years. The plan is to be implemented jointly by China's Ministry of Culture, the Secretariat of the League of Arab States and cultural departments of Arab countries. Hereby, the two sides express welcome to the first Chinese arts festival held in Damascus, Syria in April 2008 and the second Arab arts festival to be held in China in 2010. 3. The two sides applaud the achievements of the second workshop on China-Arab relations and China-Arab inter-civilization dialogue held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December 2007, and highly appreciate the fact that King Abdullah met and addressed the delegates, expressing his support for the Forum and Forum activities. The two sides agree to create the conditions for the implementation of the activities and plans outlined in the final report of the workshop, and to set up a working group composed of leading cultural officials of the two sides to find ways to implement the following recommendations: (1) make plans to translate major Chinese and Arab literature on various disciplines into the other language; (2) cooperate in the preservation of historic and cultural heritages, and make use of China's experience in this area; (3) formulate an action plan to use advanced information technology to digitalize important traditional and cultural books; (4) set up a China-Arab e-library on the internet for providing information about the two sides; (5) cultural organizations and agencies of the two sides, e.g. writers' and publishers' associations and cultural libraries, cooperate with each other and make plans for exchange of visits; (6) cooperate in the excavation, research and exchanges in the field of cultural relics, share experience in the preservation and restoration of cultural heritages, museum management, exhibition of arts, and cultural activities at museums, exchange visits of experts in cultural relics, curators and specialists in the restoration of cultural relics, and exchange materials, literature and documentaries on cultural relics; (7) attend academic meetings on cultural relics organized by the other side, and share experience in ethnic and cultural heritage preservation techniques; (8) welcome the third workshop on China-Arab relations and China-Arab inter-civilization dialogue to be held in the Republic of Tunisia in 2009, with the Secretariat of the League of Arab States responsible for the specific timing and agenda of the meeting and keeping the Chinese side informed in a timely manner. X. Educational Cooperation 1. The two sides express the willingness to make full use of their educational experience and resources to strengthen educational exchanges and cooperation. Chinese and Arab educational institutions, particularly institutions of higher learning, are encouraged to establish contact for joint scientific research, promote personnel and academic exchanges, and explore the possibility of setting up a forum to be participated by Chinese and Arab university presidents that gradually develops into a mechanism. 2. The two sides underscore the need to earnestly implement the existing educational cooperation agreements, gradually increase the number of government scholarships in a wider range of academic areas and raise the proportion of post-graduates. 3. Efforts are to be made to promote Arab language learning in China and Chinese language learning in Arab countries, and establish more Chinese/Arab language learning centers and schools. XI. Cooperation in Science and Technology 1. Efforts are to be made to promote and strengthen cooperation and exchanges in science and technology between research institutions, universities and hi-tech enterprises. Such efforts include formulating plans for scientific research and technological development. 2. The two sides are to create favorable conditions for the signing of scientific and technological cooperation agreements between their governments, establish the mechanism for the implementation of the agreements, and pay greater attention to technology transfer. XII. Medical and Health Cooperation 1. The two sides are to enhance cooperation and exchanges in medical science and training. 2. The two sides express the willingness to cooperate in legislation and policies related to traditional medicines, exchange and share in multiple ways information about traditional medicines, and strengthen cooperation and information sharing in fields such as newly found communicable diseases and medical care. XIII. Information Cooperation 1. The two sides are to promote cooperation between their news agencies in news reporting and publishing, encourage their media workers to strengthen exchanges through mutual visits, participation in relevant international exhibitions and conferences, and provide assistance and facilitation to the work of resident journalists from the other side. 2. The two sides welcome the first China-Arab information cooperation forum. A forum or workshop on China-Arab information cooperation is to be held every two years alternately between the two sides. The time and venue are to be determined through consultation between the two sides. 3. The two sides are to enhance cooperation in this field, encourage regular exchange of audiovisual and written news stories and programs, and send delegations to exhibitions and seminars on the media held by the other side. 4. The two sides are to bolster coordination and cooperation between Chinese and Arab news agencies. 5. The two sides are to strengthen cooperation in engineering technologies, professional skills and linguistic capabilities between their radio and television stations. XIV. Inter-Parliamentary and People-to-People Cooperation 1. The two sides recognize the positive role of the China-Arab Friendship Association and the Arab-China Friendship Association in promoting China-Arab friendship, and express the hope that relevant League of Arab States departments will coordinate with Arab countries to come up with appropriate candidates so as to put in place the council of Arab-China friendship association at an early date. The two sides express the readiness to earnestly implement the agreement reached at the first China-Arab friendship conference held in Khartoum, the Republic of Sudan in November 2006, further improve the friendship conference mechanism, and support its second conference to be held in Damascus, the Syrian Arab Republic in late October 2008. 2. The two sides express the willingness to bring about the first conference of China-Arab friendship cities and local governments to be held in the first half of 2009, and promote more twinning cities between the two sides for more in-depth exchanges between Chinese and Arab local governments. 3. The two sides encourage friendly exchanges and cooperation between the youth, women, non-governmental organizations as well as other agencies dedicated to China-Arab cooperation. XV. Cooperation in Other Fields The two sides will, in accordance with the Action Plan of the Forum and other documents adopted at the ministerial meeting of the Forum, carry out cooperation and promote the establishment of cooperation mechanisms in other fields. XVI. Other Matters The two sides will review the implementation of this Action Plan (2008-2010) during the next ministerial meeting, and make plans for the next step. XVII. Entry into Force and Validity This Action Plan (2008-2010) shall enter into force on the day of signature and be valid for two years. Done in Manama on 22 May 2008 in duplicate in Chinese and Arab languages, both texts being equally authentic.
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