Chinese President Xi Jinping’s keynote speech at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum is “forward-looking”, reinforcing China as a “pivotal partner” for the Arab world amid Washington’s flawed policy toward the Gaza conflict, analysts said.

They praised the forum as “exceptionally important” and for “setting a new standard for international partnerships” as it underscored challenges confronting the world, like the need for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict while also giving importance to new areas of cooperation in artificial intelligence, health and research work.

Rasha Al Joundy, a senior researcher at the Dubai Public Policy Research Centre, told China Daily that the forum offered proof as to “how much the relationship between China and (the Arab) region has changed, and (is) evolving rapidly towards more cooperation”

At the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum on May 30, Xi recalled his visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2022 for the China-Arab States Summit where he agreed unanimously with his Arab counterparts to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

READ MORE: Sino-Arab cooperation to get boost, envoy says

As changes unseen in a century unfold rapidly across the world, Xi said, both China and Arab states “strive to accomplish their historical missions of national rejuvenation and faster national development”. He also said building a China-Arab community with a shared future “is a strong statement of our common desire for a new era of China-Arab relations”.

Abdul Wahed Jalal Nori, author of the book State-building under Foreign Occupation: The Case of Iraq 2003-2008, told China Daily that Xi’s keynote address was “a masterful blend of historical context and forward-looking strategy” and that it reinforced China’s role as “a pivotal partner for the Arab world”.

In his speech, Xi promised to work closely with the Arab states to “make relations a model for maintaining world peace and stability”.

“Lasting security is built on fairness and justice. We will, together with the Arab side, respect the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, the independent choice of every nation and the reality formed in history, and strive together for solutions to hotspot issues that uphold fairness and justice and sustain peace and security,” Xi said.

Rasha Al Joundy, a senior researcher at the Dubai Public Policy Research Centre, told China Daily that the forum offered proof as to “how much the relationship between China and (the Arab) region has changed, and (is) evolving rapidly towards more cooperation”.

“This is despite the efforts from the Joe Biden administration to contain the economic and political presence that China is having. Today, the unprecedented stable regional environment and positive relations with Iran is due to China’s involvement (for example),” said Al Joundy.

Meanwhile, “instability in the region is because of negative US policy toward the Gaza war”, she said, adding that the Beijing meeting is a “manifestation of how relations with the Arab World are affected by the policies adopted by China versus the US.”

Xi, in his speech, noted that new progress has been made in Belt and Road Initiative cooperation with the Arab countries, such as scientific research and development, and technology transfer.

Trade and energy cooperation have “scaled new heights”, Xi said, as he vowed to enhance cooperation on AI “to make it empower the real economy" and to promote a broad-based global governance system on AI.

“Xi underscored or highlighted China’s ambition to lead in sectors like oil, gas, AI and renewable energy through innovative collaborations, including the establishment of joint laboratories, which is good,” said Abdul Wahed, who is also a lecturer at the Department of Fundamental and Inter-Disciplinary Studies at the International Islamic University Malaysia.

Xi said that China will build, together with Arab nations, ten joint laboratories covering areas such as life and health, AI, green and low-carbon development, modern agriculture, and space and information technology.

“By committing to innovative economic collaborations, cultural diplomacy, and robust support for Palestine, Xi positions China as a leading advocate for a fair, multipolar world order, setting a new standard for international partnerships. In a nutshell, his speech strikes a balance between China’s global ambitions and its role in promoting regional stability,” said Abdul Wahed.

Jasim Husain, a former member of Bahrain's parliament, hailed Xi’s opening speech at the Sino-Arab forum as “exceptionally important”, as the president highlighted the challenges facing the world, “including the trouble in Gaza”.

Keith Bennett, a senior international relations analyst in London, said the 10th conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) must be considered the “most comprehensive and successful to date”, since the forum was initiated 20 years ago

“China and Bahrain want to see peace in Gaza. We hope that can be established,” Husain said. Meanwhile, he lauded the high-profile attendance of Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa at the Beijing forum, saying the visit “has been viewed in Bahrain as something remarkable”, and that it is a “milestone” in the development of China-Bahrain relations.

READ MORE: China, Arab states begin new era of cooperation

Keith Bennett, a senior international relations analyst in London, said the 10th conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) must be considered the “most comprehensive and successful to date”, since the forum was initiated 20 years ago.

“The presence of four Arab heads of state, who combined attendance at a ministerial level meeting with a state visit, along with the opening speech by President Xi Jinping, testify to the high importance attached to the gathering, as well as the great expectations of both sides,” said Bennett.

“Naturally, no dialogue with the Arab world, at this time in particular, could possibly be complete without paying close attention to the tragic situation in Gaza, to the brutal Israeli aggression, and to the long plight and struggle of the Palestinian people for their legitimate national rights,” he added.

Xing Yi in London contributed to this story.

Contact the writer at jan@chinadailyapac.com