OIC, China Discuss Strategic Relationship

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) secretary-general Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, in a meeting with China's prime minister Wen Jiabao, has emphasised the need to strengthen strategic cooperation between China and the Muslim world. "The relationship should not be confined to times of crises only," Ihsanoglu said at the meeting in Riyadh over the weekend. The meeting discussed current issues and developments in the region and some parts of the Muslim world, the OIC said in a statement. Both leaders touched on the importance of establishing joint projects, following Ihsanoglu's visit to China in June 2010. Ihsanoglu noted that the Riyadh meeting came at a time when some countries in the Muslim world were passing through difficult times, during which the people were demanding democracy and good governance, emphasising their cultural identity and acquiring social and economic rights, as well as development. "Dialogue is the best means for solving problems in order to save bloodshed," he said. While the secretary-general of the 57-member organisation stressed the importance of organising a scientific symposium in Beijing, the Chinese prime minister said his country accorded great importance to the symposium. The symposium, in cooperation with the OIC Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture, will be held in June to address past and future relations between China and the Muslim world. "China is set to reinforce OIC’s efforts to achieve positive results, in such a way as to support relations between China and the Muslim world," Wen said. The meetings also stressed the importance of establishing a trade exhibition at the World Trade Centre in Ninshia Province, which will be organised jointly by the OIC Islamic Centre for Development of Trade and officials in Ninshia Province. Wen also expressed his country's interest in supporting development projects and infrastructure in OIC countries, including the Dakar-Port Sudan Railway Project, extending from the Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. -- BERNAMA