Ashraf AboArafe
President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on the opening of the 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad, reaffirming China’s support for Arab unity and independence.
Xi praised the Arab League’s 80-year legacy of promoting solidarity and regional stability and noted the complex and rapidly changing geopolitical landscape in the Middle East. He commended Arab nations for upholding sovereignty, pushing for development, and advancing justice — all of which contribute to the growing influence of the Global South.
Highlighting the growing China-Arab relationship, Xi recalled the 2022 China-Arab States Summit and said he looks forward to the second summit in 2026, which will be held in China. He expressed confidence that it will further solidify strategic ties between China and the Arab world.
“China will remain a trusted partner to the Arab world,” Xi stated, emphasizing deeper political trust, mutual development, and stronger cultural exchange.
This message reflects Beijing’s increasing diplomatic engagement with the Middle East as part of its broader effort to position itself as a champion of Global South cooperation and multipolarity.
