9/12/2022
His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, delivered a speech at the 1st Sino-Arab Summit held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which was read by the Head of the Government, Aziz Akhannouch.
His full speech is as follows:
"Praise be to God, Prayer and Greetings be upon the Prophet, His family and His companions,
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Ibn Abdulaziz Al-Saud, My Dearest Brother,
Excellency, Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, My Great Friend,
Majesties, Excellencies, Highnesses,
Ladies and gentlemen, I would first like to address My warmest thanks to My Very Dear Brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Ibn Abdulaziz Al-Saud, may God keep him, and through him, to My Dear Brother, Prince Heir, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and to the brotherly Saudi people, who are hosting the work of this first Sino-Arab Summit. I also pay tribute to the meritorious work accomplished by the Saudi authorities who ensured the proper organization and success of these meetings. We would also like to thank His Excellency, Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, for co-chairing this Summit.
I also address to His Excellency, Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, the expression of My consideration for the appreciable effort of the League which has enabled good preparation of the work of the Summit.
Furthermore, We are pleased to renew our congratulations to the friendly Chinese people for the success of the Twentieth Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. To Our Great Friend, His Excellency President Xi Jinping, We reiterate Our most sincere congratulations on his third re-election as Party leader. This new mandate testifies to the confidence shown in his person by the friendly Chinese people and the leadership of the CPC. It is also an opportunity for Us to welcome the conclusions of the Congress relating to relations with the Arab world.
Majesties, Excellencies, Highnesses,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, we are the privileged witnesses of a strong moment in the dynamics of Sino-Arab cooperation. Indeed, the holding of this first historic summit constitutes a major turning point in the solid relations that China and the Arab world have traditionally cultivated. It is also a new stone which is brought to their unshakable edifice.
In fact, this Summit is an opportunity to explore the future prospects of an exceptional founding partnership, especially since We are making sure to give it a prominent place in the hierarchy of relations forged by our Arab region with its partners, whether countries, groups, regional or international organizations. The Summit also makes it possible to highlight the civilizational significance of these historical links which have been woven all along the ancient Silk Road, thanks to dynamic human interactions, fruitful cultural mixing and mutually beneficial exchanges.
These centuries-old relationships are the result of cultural and civilizational interbreeding that has been maintained over the ages. Bridging the gap between the past and the present, they envision the future under the sign of constantly renewed cooperation, the most emblematic illustration of which is the cooperation initiated between the two parties within the framework of the European Belt Initiative and the Road.
Majesties, Excellencies, Highnesses,
Ladies and gentlemen,
In addition to the lot of crises linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, the international context surrounding this Summit is dominated by sensitive developments in the global geostrategic situation, accompanied by unrest, tension and armed conflict.
This combination of circumstances directly affects our Arab region, our partner, China, and the rest of the world, and it therefore gives a singular importance to our strategic partnership, this cooperation mechanism which we avail ourselves of to meet the multifaceted challenges we are facing.
The close collaboration between China and the Arab world has been of masterly exemplified importance and usefulness throughout the period of the pandemic. Indeed, it has made it possible to cover all aspects of health cooperation as a whole and has even risen, as in the case of the Kingdom of Morocco, to the level of a true institutional, scientific and industrial partnership, especially in vaccine material.
Majesties, Excellencies, Highnesses,
Ladies and gentlemen,We proudly underscore the concern of the friendly People's Republic of China to support the Arab region in its quest for security and stability, to help it overcome the crises it is facing and to mitigate their effects. Credited to Chinese diplomacy, this position reflects the wisdom and balance that are recognized in it and which allow it to reconcile antagonistic conceptions through virtuous recourse to dialogue. This is, in fact, the surest way to put an end to the turbulence and uncertainties that are rife in certain brotherly Arab countries.
In this regard, We make the bitter observation that the threats of insecurity and instability which weigh on the Arab region are sometimes attributable to the policies and the attitude displayed by certain Arab countries towards the others. Also, to ward off these many dangers, it is absolutely necessary to observe the rules of good neighbourliness, to respect the national sovereignty of States and their territorial integrity, to guard against any interference in their internal affairs.
On another level, China's constant support for the just Palestinian cause constitutes a valuable international achievement on which we must capitalize in order to achieve a just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of international legality, primarily those relating to Al-Quds Al-Sharif.
In this context and in Our capacity as Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, We highly appreciate China's unwavering support for the preservation of the legal and historical status of the Holy City and its position against any unilateral decision that would undermine efforts to revive the peace process, remove the Al-Quds issue from the negotiating agenda and exclude it from the final status issues.This could heighten tensions and further aggravate the situation, as we seek with peace-loving souls to create the conditions for peace to prevail and for Palestinians and Israelis to return to the negotiating table.
Majesties, Excellencies, Highnesses,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Sino-Arab relations are diversifying and evolving on the political, economic, commercial, cultural and human levels. In fact, they harbor significant potential which should be exploited to the full so that they help to materialize the aspirations of the Arab world to effective economic growth and greater scientific and technological progress, thanks in particular to the achievement development projects, strengthening infrastructure and logistical equipment, human development and technology transfer.
China is the first economic partner of the Arab countries. Nevertheless, trade between the two parties remains below existing potentials, even if it recorded satisfactory levels in terms of volume, diversity and intensity, reaching around 240 billion dollars in 2020.The trade balance also shows a considerable deficit with regard to Arab exports to China (apart from oil and gas exports). Therefore, joint action must be taken to encourage and diversify them and for these exports to act as an essential lever for promoting the Arab economy in the sectors of industry, agriculture and services.
Moreover, Chinese tourists in Arab countries are even less numerous than their Arab counterparts who choose the friendly Republic of China as their destination. Also, We recommend increased action for an increase, on both sides, of their number.
Thus, We will be better able to materialize what we all aspire to: greater rapprochement and interaction between the Arab peoples and the friendly Chinese people.
Majesties, Excellencies, Highnesses,
Ladies and gentlemen,
One of the pillars of the Kingdom of Morocco's foreign policy lies in the development of South-South cooperation, the diversification of partners and openness to regional groups.
Indeed, the Kingdom maintains relations of friendship, solidarity and fruitful cooperation with a large number of them, in particular those belonging to the countries of the South.
In this regard, We would like to express our deep satisfaction for the strong historic friendship that binds Morocco and China. We commend their fruitful cooperation in various fields as well as the constructive coordination and consultation on various issues of common interest.
Furthermore, we welcome the resolute and sincere will that the two countries share to develop these relations.
In this context, We reiterate the adherence of the Kingdom of Morocco to the one-China policy, as the basis of relations between the two friendly countries. Our support for China-led initiatives such as the "Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative" reflects the level of close cooperation between the two friendly countries.Morocco also wishes to move forward in consolidating the "Strategic Partnership" concluded between the two countries in May 2016 and endorsed by the "Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative".
We thus aim to broaden the horizons of bilateral cooperation towards new promising sectors with high added value, in order to raise relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the friendly Republic of China to high levels.
Majesties, Excellencies, Highnesses,
Ladies and gentlemen,
As is customary in cooperation forums that bring together the Arab region with other groups and countries, the Kingdom of Morocco has, in a constructive and responsible spirit, participated in the numerous activities and fruitful meetings organized within the framework of the Forum on Sino-Arab cooperation.
Bolstered by his belief in the imperative need to consolidate the strategic partnership between China and the Arab countries, he has actively contributed to the sponsorship and success of the important initiatives that have been launched in this direction.
Today, the Kingdom of Morocco reaffirms its full readiness to contribute effectively to raising the level of this strategic partnership, in all areas, by demonstrating an unchanging commitment to just and legitimate Arab causes, and so that emerges a more equitable and balanced world political and economic order, with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States and in accordance with the principle of non-interference in their internal affairs.
In the same vein, the Kingdom of Morocco welcomes the Sino-Arab initiatives that will be adopted during this summit, and affirms that it is ready to take an active part in the implementation of the recommendations that will be formulated in the "Riyadh Declaration".
The ultimate goal is to advance the China-Arab strategic partnership, lay a solid foundation for building a common future that guarantees the means of cooperation between the parties, encourage investment, upgrade the economy and develop to improve its performance, to promote the conditions that allow the Arab citizen to access the knowledge and communication society.
I take this opportunity to express once again all My pride in the deep and solid bilateral relations that exist between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and I salute the exemplary partnership between the two countries, based on constructive dialogue and active solidarity as well as on fruitful cooperation in various strategic areas.
Moreover, it is for me a particular reason for pride the bonds of sincere fraternity and mutual consideration which link the two Royal Families, in addition to the feelings of affection and friendship which the two brotherly peoples share.
In conclusion, I would like to renew my sincere thanks to the leaders, the government and the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their warm welcome and I salute their efforts to organize this Summit and ensure its success.
Thus, we will be able to achieve what we all aspire to: consolidate the foundations of a true partnership that serves peace and stability and promotes growth and common prosperity.
Wassalamou alaikoum warahmatoullahi wabarakatouh".