Wuxi, Jan 13, 2022, SPA -- Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States Dr. Naif Falah Al-Hajraf, currently on a visit to China, held here today a meeting with the Chinese State Advisor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi. During the meeting, they discussed the GCC-Chinese relations and international and regional issues of joint interest. In a joint statement, the Chinese side highly appreciated the GCC’s important achievements since its inception 40 years ago, adding that China supports a greater role for the Council in international and regional affairs. The General Secretariat of the GCC expressed its admiration for the important developmental achievements of the Chinese people and the important role of the Chinese side in international and regional affairs, adding that the GCC is following with interest the Chinese Foreign Minister’s five-point initiative on achieving security and stability in the Middle East which he announced during his visit to the region in March 2021. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the development of the GCC-Chinese relations and stressed that strengthening the cooperation is in line with the basic and long-term interests of both sides, looking forward to continuing to raise the bilateral ties to a new level and enhancing mutual support, to safeguards common interests. The two sides agreed: 1. The importance of establishing strategic partnership relations between the GCC and China as soon as possible, to further strengthen cooperation, raise the level of practical cooperation, and address challenges, to achieve common development and serve common interests. 2. Signing the joint action plan for the strategic dialogue between the GCC and China between 2022-2025 as soon as possible, to expand new horizons and areas of cooperation between the two sides. 3. The importance of completing negotiations on the free trade agreement between the GCC and China as soon as possible, and establishing the free trade area between the two sides promptly, to boost the level of liberalization and facilitation of trade and the governance of commercial and economic interests of the two parties. 4. Holding the fourth session of the strategic dialogue between the GCC and China in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on a date convenient for both sides, to enhance strategic communication between the two sides, follow up on their development programs, and plan relations and cooperation between the GCC and China in the future. --SPA 20:08 LOCAL TIME 17:08 GMT 0027 www.spa.gov.sa/w1678071