'Small, beautiful' projects under BRI credited with promoting shared values

Lebanon's ambassador to China has underscored the deepening ties between the two countries — a bond rooted in ancient history and bolstered by modern cooperation, especially the "small and beautiful" projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Ambassador Milia Jabbour said Lebanon's historical ties with China date back more than 2,000 years along the Silk Road and form the bedrock of the modern relationship.

"We share one continent," Jabbour said, describing Lebanon as a key stop where Chinese traders once carried goods to Europe.

Diplomatic ties, established in 1971, have deepened since 2017, when China and Lebanon signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly build the BRI, she said.

Apart from big infrastructure projects, she champions "small and beautiful" projects that uplift communities. Among them is the China-funded National Higher Conservatory of Music in Dbayeh, near Beirut, featuring teaching rooms, auditoriums and a theater with a capacity for 1,200 people.

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"Art can bring us closer and closer," Jabbour said. "Those who love music, theater and art are looking at the watch as to when it will be finished."

The conservatory is going to be "the biggest musical conservatory "and "one of the most beautiful designs" in the Middle East, she added.

"We really appreciate those 'small and beautiful' projects. They highlight how the Chinese soft power can build bridges between Lebanese and Chinese people."

Cultural exchanges are drawing the two countries closer, Jabbour said. The Confucius Institute at the Saint Joseph University in Beirut, the first of its kind in the Middle East, was established in 2006.

Chinese language, calligraphy and culture captivate Lebanese students, businesspeople and academics alike, she added.

The ambassador is equally impressed with Chinese enthusiasm for Arabic. "Sometimes they speak it better than me. This is very encouraging," she said, stressing that true connection requires the understanding of history and culture.

Such mutual admiration is fueling travel between the two countries. "China is becoming a popular destination for Lebanon," she said.

Many visitors are amazed by the rapid development of Shenzhen, which transformed from a fishing village into a global technology hub within a few decades. "China can implement what it sees good for its people, and that's what we should learn from," she said.

This awe extends to commerce. Chinese cars, known for their advanced technology, have become increasingly popular in Lebanon, forming a key part of bilateral trade, which reached $2.2 billion last year.

Meanwhile, Jabbour said she has seen how much Chinese people want to visit Lebanon for its ancient ruins and cuisine. "This is very touching," she said, hoping for a brighter future where Lebanon can fully showcase its warmth and hospitality.

"Chinese people understand our country sometimes better than some of our neighbors, because they know how much we struggle to survive."

Lebanon's challenges, from domestic crises to the fallout of the Gaza conflict, make China's support even more vital, Jabbour said at a recent forum organized by Renmin University of China's Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies.

Trusted global power

"China is a very respected and trusted global power," she told China Daily, praising its role in brokering the historic reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and the unity declaration of 14 Palestinian factions.

She emphasized multilateralism as key to regional calm. "We believe a lot in what the international community can do," she said, voicing hope that broader peace in the Middle East can be established soon.

Jabbour, also dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps to China, said: "China-Arab relations are built on trust, respect and frankness. We respect the core interests of both."

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At the first China-Arab States Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2022, China and Arab states agreed to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

"Since then, matters have been building up in terms of economic and political relationship with China," Jabbour said.

She hopes the successful hosting of the second summit — scheduled to take place in China next year — will signal a stronger partnership between China and the Arab world, particularly with Lebanon.

shaoxinying@chinadaily.com.cn