Bahrain takes part in China-Arab cooperation forum

Doha, May 12 (BNA): The Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the seventh Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF), held here today, with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, the Arab League - member countries and Arab League Secretary General, Dr. Nabil al Arabi. The Minister’s Assistant for Foreign Affairs, Abdullah bin Faisal bin Jabr Al Dossari, delivered a statement in which he affirmed the strength of the Bahraini –Chinese relations which are witnessing development in all domains. He pointed out that the Kingdom of Bahrain’s support for the initiative of the Chinese President regarding the Building of the Silk Road Economic Belt, known as the "Road and Belt" emanates from hope that it would help achieve joint Arab-Chinese interests in all fields. Al Dossari uttered satisfaction over the great growth witnessed by the Arab-Chinese ties and increase of trade volume between the two sides just 12 years after CASCF inception. The Meeting culminated in the Doha declaration which condemned the terrorist attacks targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain killing a number of security men and innocent civilians The Doha Declaration also denounced terrorism in general of whatever forms or manifestation, refused to link it to any specific religion, ethnicity and culture and affirmed the need for concerted regional and international efforts to combat it, eliminate the root causes and set up strategies to block its funding sources. It also welcomed the results of the conference on combating the financing of terrorism, hosted by the Kingdom in November 2014 and the workshop on charity donations and combating terrorism and violent extremism, held in November 2015. The Declaration also welcome the Award granted by the Organization for Coexistence between Religions and Civilizations to H.M. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his contribution and role in the promotion of meaningful dialogue among religions and cultures, mutual respect among peoples and communities, confidence building and understanding, repudiation of hatred and welcomed Kingdom of Bahrain’s hosting of the Dialogue among Civilizations and Cultures Conference in 2014. Furthermore and the occasion of the end of his duties, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of both sides extended thanks and appreciation to the Arab League Secretary General, Dr. Nabil Al Arabi, for the efforts he has exerted to develop CASCF mechanisms of cooperation and underpin the Arab-Chinese relations, welcoming the holding of the Forum’s 8th meeting in China in 2018