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China Daily E-paper
Op-Ed Contributors
Historical relations down the ages
By Zhang Xiaodong (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-14 07:52
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Since this is the basis of the Sino-Arab economic relationship, it proves that people who call China a "greedy predator" are either ignorant, or do so with ulterior motives, because the Middle East energy market is still controlled by Western giants.
From the Sino-Arab economic and trade exchange in recent years, we can see that energy is not the only field that China is cooperating with Arab states in. Chinese enterprises have increased their investment and technology transfer in Arab countries in infrastructure construction, mechanical manufacturing, and light and textile industries, which is conducive to promoting social and economic development, increasing the technical level of and employment in the Arab nations.
China has increased imports of products such as Egyptian marble, Jordanian potash fertilizer, Tunisian olive oil and Sudanese sesame from the Arab nations. Besides, the Arab countries' investment in China has risen steadily. Because of the strong complementary nature of China and the Arab nations, economic and trade cooperation has made significant progress in recent years.
At the second Ministerial Meeting of China-Arab Cooperation Forum in 2006, the two sides agreed to achieve $100-billion bilateral trade by 2010. Not surprisingly, the Sino-Arab trade volume in 2008 reached $132.8 billion.
I think the fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum could boost China-Arab ties. But the foreign media will speculate on China-Arab relations and the role of China in the Middle East. Throughout modern history, the Middle East has been the battlefield of big powers. And energy has always been the reward for the victor. Hence, it is not surprising to see the Western media speculate over China-Arab relations.
As a matter of fact, China has never imposed its will on Arab countries. It has never offered aid to Arab countries on harsh terms. It abides by the international economy and trade principles of equality, equity and mutual benefits. It never pursues exclusive political goals or any policy for its own profit and at the expense of others in the Middle East. Since China has been growing steadily during the globalization process, it resolutely believes that equality and cooperation is the base of policymaking. Moreover, mutual benefits and a win-win situation is the outcome of China's policy.
The author is a research scholar with the Institute of West Asia and Africa Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and deputy chief of the Chinese Association of Middle East Studies.
(China Daily 05/14/2010 page9)
