Closing Statements Of Recent GCC-China And Arab-China Summits: The Sides Support The UAE’s Efforts To Resolve The Issue Of The Three Islands Held By Iran; Affirm “That Taiwan Is An Integral Part Of Chinese Territory And Reject Taiwan’s ‘Independence’ In All Its Forms” 12-12-22
MESOP MIDEAST WATCH DOCUMENTS: MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 10370
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently made an official three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, during which he attended three summits: a Saudi-Chinese Summit, a summit between China and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and an Arab-Chinese Summit attended by over 30 leaders and officials.
The closing statements of the GCC-China and the Arab-China summits stressed the desire of both sides to strengthen their strategic partnership and cooperation, and expressed joint positions on a wide range of topics. Especially conspicuous were references to two issues of intense concern for each of the sides. Oneis these issues was that of Taiwan, which is highly important to China. Both closing statements stressed the leaders’ support for China’s efforts to maintain its territorial integrity and adhere to the one-China principle. The closing statement of the Arab-China summit addressed this topic more explicitly by “reaffirming that Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory and rejecting Taiwan’s ‘independence’ in all its forms.” It also expressed support for the Chinese position on Hong Kong, commending “the People’s Republic of China’s efforts to maintain national security and develop and perfect democracy in Hong Kong within the framework of one country, two systems.”
The second issue, pointedly addressed in the closing statement of the GCC summit, was that of Iran, which is of great concern to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. The statement called for the relations between Iran and the GCC to be based on good neighborliness, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for independence, and the avoidance of force and the threat of force. At the same time, it stressed the need “to address the Iranian nuclear file and destabilizing regional activities, address support for terrorist and sectarian groups and illegal armed organizations, prevent the proliferation of ballistic missiles and drones, ensure the safety of international navigation and oil installations, and adhere to UN resolutions and international legitimacy.” There was also a call “to ensure the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program” and for Iran “to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.”
In addition, the statement expressed support for the GCC position on the three islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, which are held by Iran but claimed by the UAE, by commending “all peaceful efforts, including the initiative and endeavors of the United Arab Emirates, to reach a peaceful solution to [this] issue… through bilateral negotiations in accordance with the rules of international law.”
Another issue emphasized in this closing statement was that of Yemen. The leaders “affirmed their support for the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen, headed by His Excellency President Dr Rashad Al Alimi, expressing their hope to reach a political solution” in the country, and called on all Yemeni parties to immediately initiate direct negotiations and to maintain the armistice. They also “condemned all terrorist attacks launched by the Houthi militia on civilian targets in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Yemeni interior and in the waterways and international shipping routes, and called on all countries to cooperate in combating these acts and to abide by the arms embargo stipulated in Security Council Resolutions 2216 and 2624.”
The following is the English text of the GCC-China summit’s closing statement, as published by the Saudi official press agency, and the English text of the Arab-China summit’s closing statement, as published by the Bahraini official press agency.
GCC-China Summit Stresses “The Need To Address The Iranian Nuclear File And Destabilizing Regional Activities,” Calls “To Ensure The Peaceful Nature Of The Iranian Nuclear Program,” Urges Iran To Cooperate With IAEA
“The [GCC-China summit] issued the following:
“1. The leaders agreed to strengthen the existing strategic partnership between the GCC and China, and emphasized pushing it towards new horizons in various political, economic and cultural fields, and approved the joint action plan for the coming period (2023-2027) to achieve this.
“2. The leaders directed the continuation of the strategic dialogue between the two sides at all levels to discuss issues of common concern and coordinate positions on them, support international economic recovery efforts, address the negative economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic and other challenges, work to ensure flexibility of supply chains, security of food and energy supplies, and advance building cooperation relations in developing clean energy sources and technologies, assisting countries most in need and contributing to meeting their humanitarian needs.
“3. The leaders emphasized the importance of mutual support in order to achieve the common interests of both sides, as China supports the efforts of the GCC states to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity, maintain its security and stability, and achieve integrated development. The GCC states also support China’s efforts to develop its economy, maintain its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and adhere to the one-China principle.
“4. The leaders stressed the importance of continuing to deepen cooperation between the two sides in the fields of energy, trade, investment, finance, industry, advanced technology, space and health, in the common interest of both sides, including completing free trade negotiations between them as soon as possible.”