While the Silk Road in history paved way for modernity by linking east and west, the Belt and Road Initiative nowadays has the potential of transforming the world once again, said Arab League (AL) Secretary General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit in Beijing on Monday.
Aboul-Gheit expressed his views on China-Arab relations and his outlook of China-Arab cooperation in a speech ahead of the eighth ministerial meeting of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum scheduled Tuesday.
Aboul-Gheit said the Belt and Road Initiative is a process that is rooted not only in economic cooperation, but in cultural ties and political understanding.
He considered the traditional friendship between China and Arab countries and the shared values between the two sides as favorable conditions for advancing the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.
"Arab countries are situated in the converging area of the Asian and African continents, overlooking both the Mediterranean and the Red sea. Arab governments embarked on massive investment projects and ambitious plans to develop the infrastructure necessary to enable the region to become a major hub for international trade," said Aboul-Gheit. "Such plans will undoubtedly dovetail with the Belt and Road Initiative."
Aboul-Gheit said despite its outstanding economic achievements, China, as the largest developing country in the world, still views the international economic system through perspective of a developing country, thereby making its positions and stances on issues of international trade similar to those of the Arab countries.
He said the potential of the Arab world is evident, as almost one third of its population, or 100 million people, are aged between 15 and 29.