(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-20 21:47

MANAMA  -- China and Arab countries hailed the development of their relations in the past two years, during the fifth meeting of senior officials of China-Arab Cooperation Forum held Tuesday in Bahrain's capital of Manama.

Delegates from China and 22 Arab nations reviewed the achievements in their cooperation since the second ministerial meeting of the forum was held in Beijing in 2006.

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun said China has achieved the goal of training 1,500 personnel in management and technology for Arab countries and the goal of reaching 100 billion US dollars of China-Arab  trade volume can be achieved this year.

"Our achievements in the past two years prove that the forum has become an important platform and an effective mechanism to enhance cooperation and dialogue so as to bring more benefit to our people," Zhai said.

China has always attached great importance to its relations with Arab countries and would further boost bilateral political, economic and cultural ties against the backdrop of a new global situation, he added.

Officials of the meeting are also expected to map out an outline of their future cooperation as well as exchange views on major international and regional issues.

Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League (AL) Ahmad Bin Hely said both sides should work to set up a new type of cooperative relations between Arab states and China in an effort to safeguard the common interests of developing nations and better deal with global challenge and crisis.

The one-day meeting is a preparative session for the forum's third ministerial conference slated for May 21-22.