Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, received Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the headquarters of the General Secretariat on 9 July. Mr. Li was accompanied by the Chinese Ministers of Finance and Commerce as part of a high-level delegation. The meeting took place during the senior Chinese official's visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Gamal Roshdy, the Secretary-General’s official spokesperson, stated that Mr. Aboul Gheit began the meeting by welcoming the Chinese Premier to the League headquarters and expressing his deep appreciation for the long-standing Arab-Chinese friendship. He also commended the role played by the League of Arab States in fostering cooperation between the Arab world and China across political, economic, social, and cultural domains.
The spokesperson added that Mr. Aboul Gheit underscored the League’s and its member states’ keen interest in expanding bilateral cooperation to broader horizons, particularly within the framework of the Arab-China Cooperation Forum, established in 2004. Premier Li expressed China’s eagerness to host the second Arab-China Summit, scheduled for 2026. Mr. Aboul Gheit welcomed this proposal and affirmed the General Secretariat’s readiness to work closely with the Chinese side to ensure early and effective preparations for this important event.
According to the spokesperson, the meeting also addressed key regional and international issues of mutual concern. Mr. Aboul Gheit expressed appreciation for China’s consistent support of the Palestinian cause—a central issue for the League of Arab States—in various international forums, as well as for its continued support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
He further noted that during the meeting, Mr. Aboul Gheit reaffirmed the Arab position in support of the One China principle and China’s efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also conveyed his appreciation for the initiatives proposed by China President Xi Jinping, including the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilisation Initiative.
