Wang Yi Meets with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud

On March 22, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Islamabad on the sidelines of the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) upon invitation.

Wang Yi said that China and Saudi Arabia are good friends and good brothers who enjoy mutual trust and shared development and support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests. China appreciates Saudi Arabia's adherence to an objective and fair position and its support for China's legitimate claims on China-related issues. China supports Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and national dignity and backs its major development strategies of the "Middle East Green Initiative" and "Vision 2030". China is willing to enhance the alignment with Saudi Arabia and create a new pattern of all-around and high-level cooperation.

Faisal said that Saudi Arabia is proud of its close relations and high-level strategic cooperation with China and is appreciative of China's support for its major development strategies. Saudi Arabia is ready to jointly implement the important consensus between leaders of the two countries, deepen the alignment with the Belt and Road Initiative, and expand practical cooperation in various areas to complement each other's advantages. Saudi Arabia and China adhere to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and support multilateralism. Both countries advocate that the international agenda should serve the interests of most countries instead of individual countries. Saudi Arabia stands ready to strengthen communication and collaboration with China so as to play a leading role in safeguarding the common interests of the international community and international fairness and justice.

Faisal spoke highly of the Chinese foreign minister's first attendance at the session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers. He believes such attendance is of historical significance that is vital for deepening cooperation and the speech made by the Chinese side is well received and responded to. Wang Yi said that he is ready to take this session as an opportunity to push the relations between China and Islamic countries to a higher level and make new contributions of Chinese and Islamic civilizations to human progress in the new era.

The two sides exchanged views on China-Arab cooperation and agreed to enhance communication and coordination for the preparations for the proposed China-Arab states summit and jointly establish a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

The two sides had thorough discussions about elevating China's relations with the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (CCG), and agreed to accelerate the establishment of the China-CCG strategic partnership and reach consensus on the free trade agreement to send positive messages, provide strong impetus for the development of both sides and bring positive expectations for the world economic recovery.

As to the Ukraine issue, the two sides agreed that all countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected and their reasonable security concerns should be taken seriously. It is imperative to prevent any humanitarian crisis, maintain the peace talk process and resolve conflicts through dialogue and negotiation. Both sides emphasized that all countries have the right to make independent judgements, withstand external pressure, and disagree with the simple logic of "black or white" and "friend or foe".

The two sides also exchanged views on the Yemen issue. Faisal briefed on the current situation in Yemen. Wang Yi said that China understands Saudi Arabia's reasonable and legitimate concerns and stands ready to play a constructive role in addressing the Yemen issue by political means.

The two sides also had an exchange of views on the Afghan issue and the Iranian nuclear issue.