Riyadh [Saudi Arabia], December 11 (ANI): Leaders of China and the member states of the Arab League have agreed to strengthen cooperation and enhance the China-Arab strategic partnership, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

On the afternoon of December 9, the first China-Arab States Summit was held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

The Summit issued the Riyadh Declaration of the First China-Arab States Summit which announced that China and Arab States agreed to make efforts to build a China-Arab community with a “shared future in the new era.” Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the Summit with leaders from 21 countries of the Arab League.

In a declaration issued following the first China-Arab States Summit, the leaders said they hope to open up broader prospects for the China-Arab strategic partnership. China and Arab states are committed to deepening China-Arab cooperation in various fields through the mechanisms under the framework of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, according to the declaration.

The two sides agreed to make all-out efforts to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era. Notably, the declaration said that the Arab states adhere to the one-China principle, support China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and reaffirm that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China‘s territory.

The leaders agreed that regional and international efforts should be made to seek political solutions to regional crises and issues such as the crises in Syria, Libya and Yemen in accordance with relevant international resolutions, agreements and principles.

They said they support the efforts to achieve a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and restore security and peace in accordance with international law, the principles of the UN Charter, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

The leaders said they support the establishment of a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction, in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which is the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. Both sides agreed to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts and reject “double standards” in the fight against terrorism. They also agreed to strengthen dialogue among civilizations and oppose Islamophobia in all forms. (ANI)

Political turmoil persistent in China as CCP faces leadership challenge

Beijing [China], December 11 (ANI): Despite the election of Xi Jinping for an unprecedented third term, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to face leadership challenges such as the test of long-term rule, reform and modernisation, revive the market economy and of the external environment, according to di Valerio Fabbri writing in Geopolitica.Info.

The primary cause behind the loss of faith in Xi’s leadership as well as that of the CCP by the Chinese masses is attributed to passive corruption, party’s authoritarian style of working and the separation of government from the masses.

According to Liu Haixing, deputy director of the Central National Security Commission office, who recently wrote an article in People’s Daily on national security issues and was quoted by Fabbri in Geopolitica.Info, the national challenges facing the communist government are bound to create new problems in future.

In his article which discusses difficulties faced by China in terms of political means, Haixing quotes President Xi Jinping’s report from the 20th Party Congress, which notes that the nation has entered a developmental phase in which strategic opportunities, risks, and difficulties are present, however uncertainties and unanticipated factors are growing. Haixing issues a warning that various “grey rhino” and “black swan” disasters could happen at any time.

The CCP has persistent and recurrent issues with its working methods, the establishment of a clean government, and its anti-corruption initiatives. The Covid turmoil unravels, shocking the party leadership for the first time since the Tiananmen Square riots, making this observation almost prophetic, as per Geopolitica.Info.

Regarding the domestic issues, Liu argues that the issue of unbalanced and insufficient development is still a major issue, economic development is dealing with the triple pressure of demand contraction, supply shock, and weakening expectations, the reform task is still difficult, significant bottlenecks still exist in terms of China’s capacity for science and technology innovation, and the security of supply chains involving food, energy, and resources is put to a significant test.

Notably, the recent unrest seen in China was on November 24 when a fire tore through a residential building in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region’s capital Urumqi. After the incident, citizens circulated the videos on the internet space, with residents screaming and demanding authorities to open exits. The residents said they were closed under strict Covid-19 restrictions that have been in place for more than 100 days and have caused widespread hardship.

Furthermore, if national security matters are to be concerned, Chinese President Xi Jinping has ensured that armed forces make preparations to focus their energy on efficiency to launch wars, bolster their ability to win and effectively fulfil the “missions and tasks” of the army in the “new era.”
As per the Hong Kong Post, Chinese armed forces must “resolutely be loyal” to Xi Jinping and “support, safeguard and defend” the leadership to the core. (ANI)