On May 30, 1956, Egypt became the first Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with New China, opening a chapter of friendship across mountains and seas. Seventy years of wind and rain, on this day in 2026, China Arab relations are about to enter their eighth decade, and this land that has nurtured ancient civilization is undergoing profound changes. Faced with the complex and evolving regional situation, China and Arab countries not only share a common memory of opposing hegemony and defending justice, but also shoulder the mission of maintaining peace and co creating prosperity in the era.

The historical inheritance of mutual assistance and support

From China's gratuitous aid of 20 million Swiss francs to Egypt during the 1956 Suez Canal Crisis, to China's active efforts to promote peace and talks when the US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran in 2026, China and Arab countries have always stood firmly on each other's side.

On the morning of May 30, 2024, the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China Arab Cooperation was held in Beijing

Whether it is the anti imperialist and anti colonial struggle during the Cold War or the adherence to multilateralism under the rise of unilateralism today, both sides have always supported each other. This strategic mutual trust based on a shared destiny goes beyond simple energy supply and demand, becoming a stable anchor in a turbulent world.

Draw a new blueprint for the five major patterns

Relying on the China Arab States Cooperation Forum and the China Arab States Summit mechanism, both sides are making every effort to build a community of shared future for the new era. The "Five Cooperation Patterns" proposed at the 2024 Beijing Summit are accelerating their implementation: from green energy such as photovoltaic and wind power to Beidou satellite applications, from infrastructure interconnection to investment and financial deepening, China Arab cooperation has expanded from traditional oil and gas to the forefront of digital economy and artificial intelligence. This all-round mutual benefit and win-win situation breaks the traditional paradigm of "resources for goods" and sets an example for South South cooperation.

On May 6, 2026, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Aragorzi in Beijing

The positive energy of the rise of the global South

Currently, as the largest developing country, China, along with the Arab League consisting of 22 Arab countries, is stepping onto the world stage with unprecedented solidarity. Both sides firmly support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and oppose any form of hegemonic logic. Against the backdrop of accelerating changes over the past century, the cooperation between China and Arab countries not only concerns regional peace and stability, but also injects strong southern forces into the reform of the global governance system, jointly writing a new chapter of human civilization exchange and mutual learning.Editor/Gao Xue