China's Wen Promises Greater Cooperation With Arab Nations
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, left, meets with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, right, at the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, 07 Nov 2009 Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is promising greater cooperation with Arab nations on economic, political and cultural fronts. Mr. Wen told the Arab League in Cairo Saturday that the key to better relations is "respecting diversity of civilizations."
Premier Wen stressed China's role as "trusted brothers" of the Arab people and noted the history of trade between the nations dates back to the Silk Road. Mr. Wen said trade has soared in modern times, more than tripling between 2004 and last year, when it topped $132 billion.
The Chinese leader spoke in Cairo ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, a major investment conference in the Egyptian resort Sharm el Sheikh. He also held talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on bilateral ties.
But his speech to the Arab League focused mainly on cultural diversity and respect.
He noted that China has 56 ethnic groups, and more than 20 million Muslims. He elaborated in detail how the Chinese government helps ensure they have access to what he called Muslim food.
Premier Wen also said the Chinese government works for the equality of all ethnic groups, a point disputed by China's Tibetan and Uighur dissidents, among others. He added that he rejected linking terrorism to any ethnic group or religion, again a point debated by Muslim Uighurs who have been rounded up in anti-terror sweeps.
The Chinese leader was given a warm reception in Cairo, with the audience applauding at various points in his speech. But his reference to how every Chinese household has embraced the Arabic classic, 1001 Nights drew a gentle rebuke from Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa.
Amr Moussa said that while the stories include interesting historical ideas, that time is done and gone. He pointed to the Arab world's contemporary exports, including scientific texts.
All the same, the Arab League chief noted that China is a development model to be emulated.
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File photo of Chinese Premier Wen JibaoChina's Premier Wen Jiabao is in Cairo, Egypt, where he held talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in preparation for the  that begins on Sunday in Sharm el-Sheikh.

The leaders of 49 African countries are gathering in the Egyptian Red Sea resort for a two-day meeting to discuss economic and political cooperation with China. 

At their talks, Wen and Mubarak discussed ways to improve bilateral relations. The Chinese leader also delivered a speech at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. He spoke about ways to further enhance the friendly relations between China and the Arab world - and to promote the Middle East peace process.

"The relationship between Chinese civilisation and Islamic civilisation goes back years," Wen said in his speech. "China is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. The basic policy of the Chinese government is to ensure equality among all ethnic groups and speed up the economic development of all regions."

This July, clashes between Muslim minority Uighurs and the dominant Chinese group Han killed almost 200 in the Xinjiang region; vigilantes from the latter group started attacking Uighurs several days later.

Chinese officials said that they would punish those responsible for the attacks "severely", and several hundred people were detained in a crackdown. The government's treatment of the Uighur group was condemned by some countries abroad, with the United States saying that China was "repressing peaceful expressions of religious beliefs and political views."

Wen, however, maintained that there was no discrimination against Muslims in China.
"In China, more than 20 million people from 10 ethnic groups believe in Islam. They are all members of the big family of the Chinese nation," he continued in his speech. "Their beliefs, culture and way of life are fully respected."

At this second China-Africa summit, Wen is expected to offer African nations several billion dollars in credit and loans. To feed China's appetite for raw materials, Chinese companies have invested billions of dollars in Africa. Trade between China and the continent also continues to grow.

The first China-Africa summit was held in 2006.