China to promote friendly cooperation with Bahrain

China is willing to join Bahrain to promote their friendly cooperation to new levels based on mutual respect, mutual benefit and equality, visiting top Chinese political advisor Yu Zhengsheng said here on Tuesday.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks after holding a series of meetings with Bahraini leaders including King Al Khalifa, Crowned Prince Salman, Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad, Speaker of House of Representative Dhahrani as well as Al-saleh, speaker of consultative council.

He lauded Bahrain's achievements in maintaining domestic stability, boosting economic growth, and improving the lives of its people, saying that the Middle East country has successfully grown into a regional finance and business hub with a reputation of the Pearl of the Gulf.

Since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties 25 years ago, the two sides have seen a constant growth of political mutual trust, while they have also supported each other over issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, Yu said.

King Al Khalifa visited China in September last year. In the visit, King Al Khalifa and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to forge a stable and long-lasting friendly and cooperative relationship.

Yu said the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries has charted the course for the future development of the China-Bahrain relations, adding that China attaches great importance to its ties with Bahrain.

China hopes that Bahrain can play an active role in building up the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st century maritime Silk Road, a China-proposed initiatives for peace and win-win cooperation, and boost the China-Bahrain practical cooperation in infrastructure, communication, energy and other sectors, said Yu.

The Chinese official also hopes that the two countries can work with each other in maintaining regional peace and stability, and fighting terrorism.

Yu also briefed the Bahrain leaders about China's political, economic and social development. He said the CPPCC believes it is important to develop its ties with Bahrain's legislative bodies, and would like to promote their cooperation and exchanges so as to make positive contributions to the mutual understanding of the two countries and the development of bilateral ties.

King Al Khalifa and other Bahraini leaders said Bahrain and China, countries with differences in many sectors, face a plenty of similar tasks in developing their economies, improving people's livelihood, and maintaining social stability, adding that the two have also cooperated with each other in numerous fields and projects, which have been going quite well.

Bahrain is willing to work closely with China in politics, economy, culture, education, as well as other sectors in the future, they said, adding that the Gulf nation looks forward to more Chinese investment, enhanced exchanges between their legislative bodies as well as close coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs.

Yu arrived in Bahrain on Wednesday after his official visits to Algeria and Morocco. He will leave for Jordan on Friday, the last leg of his four-nation tour in North Africa and West Asia.