CRI听力:China Ready to Strengthen Security Cooperation with Arab Countries

The opening ceremony of the China-Arab States Expo 2015 is held in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Sept. 10, 2015. The second China-Arab States Expo, a platform to promote ties between China and the Middle East countries, kicked off on Thursday, and will run until Sunday in Yinchuan, capital city of Ningxia. [Photo: Xinhua/Li Ran]

The Chinese Foreign Ministry says the newly issued Arab Policy Paper aims to promote a strategic partnership and common development between the two sides.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks after the policy paper, the first document on ties with Arab countries, was released on Wednesday.

"The paper gives an overall review of the development and achievements in the China-Arab relations over the past 60 years and elaborates on China's Arab policies in the new era. It maps out a blueprint for China-Arab cooperation in five areas, namely politics, trade and economy, social development, culture and people-to-people exchanges, and peace and security. "

The document also states that China is ready to strengthen dialogue and intelligence sharing to jointly address regional and international terrorist threats.

The Chinese government also supports the creation of a nuclear-weapons-free zone in the Middle East.

For more on this issue, our reporter Liu Kun earlier spoke with Li Guofu, Senior Research Fellow with China Institute of International Studies.