Editing Foreign relations of China (section)

===== China-Arab States Cooperation Forum =====
The core political norms that China advocates within CASCF are its [[Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence]]: mutual respect for territory and sovereignty, mutual nonaggression, mutual noninterference in internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence.<ref name="Murphy-2022">{{Cite book|last=Murphy|first=Dawn C.|title=China's rise in the Global South: the Middle East, Africa, and Beijing's alternative world order|publisher=Stanford University Press|date=2022|isbn=978-1-5036-3060-4|location=Stanford, California|page=59|oclc=1249712936}}</ref> These principles are a conservative interpretation of the [[Westphalian sovereignty|Westphalian norms]] of state sovereignty.<ref name="Murphy-2022" />

The most prominent political issue advocated through CASCF is a Middle East peace process aimed at resolving the [[Arab–Israeli conflict|Arab-Israeli conflict]] (including the territorial disputes that Lebanon and Syria each have with Israel).<ref name="Murphy-2022a">{{Cite book|last=Murphy|first=Dawn C.|title=China's rise in the Global South: the Middle East, Africa, and Beijing's alternative world order|publisher=Stanford University Press|date=2022|isbn=978-1-5036-3060-4|location=Stanford, California|page=61|oclc=1249712936}}</ref> Other issues which have emerged following the [[Arab Spring]] include the [[Syrian civil war]], and issues in Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Sudan, and Somalia.<ref name="Murphy-2022a" /> In recent years, CASCF documents have noted Arab states' support for China's approach in Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Murphy|first=Dawn C.|title=China's rise in the Global South: the Middle East, Africa, and Beijing's alternative world order|date=2022|publisher=[[Stanford University Press]]|isbn=978-1-5036-3060-4|location=Stanford, California|page=270|oclc=1249712936}}</ref>

In the opening ceremony of the Forum in 2004, Chinese foreign minister [[Li Zhaoxing]] said that the [[Arab world]] is an important force in the international arena, and that China and Arab countries enjoy a time-honored friendship, remarking "Similar histories, common objectives and wide-ranging shared interests have enabled the two sides to strengthen cooperation," he said. "No matter how the international situation changes, China has always been the sincere friend of the Arab world."<ref>{{Cite web|title=1st Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum Ministerial Meeting Held|url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/2004/Sep/107188.htm|access-date=8 December 2021|website=china.org.cn}}</ref>

The Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum was formally established during China's paramount leader Hu Jintao's visit to the League's headquarters in January 2004. Hu noted at the time that the formation of the forum was a continuation of the traditional friendship between China and the Arab world and an important move to promote bilateral ties under new circumstances.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

Li stated that "the establishment of the forum would be conducive to expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in a variety of areas."{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

"The PRC has submitted four proposals. First, maintaining mutual respect, equitable treatment and sincere cooperation on the political front. Second, promoting economic and trade ties through cooperation in investment, trade, contracted projects, labor service, energy, transportation, telecommunications, agriculture, environmental protection and information. Third, expanding cultural exchanges. Finally, conducting personnel training," he said. 
Arab foreign ministers attending the meeting agreed that the formal inauguration of the forum was a significant event in the history of Arab ties with China. They submitted a variety of proposals on promoting Sino-Arab friendship and cooperation. 
At the conclusion of the meeting, Li and Arab League Secretary General [[Amr Moussa]] signed a declaration and an action plan for the forum. 
Li arrived in [[Cairo]] on Sunday evening for a three-day visit to Egypt, the last leg of a [[Middle East]] tour that has taken him to Saudi Arabia, [[Yemen]] and [[Oman]].{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}