Closer friendship among old friends

"Please all rise for a one-minute silence to mourn for the earthquake victims in China," Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled Bin Ahmed al-Thani proposed before the meeting started.

Every Arab delegates to the meeting reiterated their heartfelt condolences before delivering a speech.

Moved by the scene, Yang expressed gratitude for Arab nations' sympathy and support, saying "your mourning strikes me deeply that Arab people are standing together with Chinese people and we are friends and brothers who jointly shouldering pains and adversities. "

This small episode of the conference reflected the intimacy among two old friends, and China and Arab countries have kept close coordination in international and regional affairs as both sides have witnessed increasing political mutual trust in recent years.

Yang said China-Arab relations have set an exemplary international model and made important contributions to world peace and stability.

The communique said the two sides vow to strengthen political consultation on major international and regional issues.

China will continue to firmly support the just cause of the Arab people and their choices of development on their own, Yang said.

Both sides should also seek closer coordination in political and economic affairs of the world in an effort to protect the interests of developing nations, he added.

Arab nations appreciated China's constructive role in international issues and hoped China would exert more influence on Middle East peace process.

Arab countries stressed in the communique that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and they oppose "Taiwan independence" in any form.