On September 21, 2017 local time, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit of the Arab League on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Wang Yi expressed that China and Arab States are good brothers and good friends. President Xi Jinping paid a historic visit to the Middle East last year, driving an overall development of relations between China and Arab states. Under the joint efforts made by China and Arab States, the implementation of visit outcomes has achieved active progress. China and Arab States have always share mutual understanding and support on politics, and China appreciates supports offered by Arab States on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns, and will continuously firmly safeguard Arab States' interests on issues concerned. China is willing to actively share development experience and better support the economic diversification strategy of Arab States, and is ready to make joint efforts with Arab States to push the eighth ministerial conference of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum to be held 2018 for a complete success.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressed that China is a trustworthy and reliable partner of Arab States. In recent years, both sides have conducted frequent interaction and close coordination, and continuously deepened cooperation in various fields. Arab States attach high importance to their relations toward China, stand ready to actively participate in the "Belt and Road" construction, and are willing to work with China to make the eighth China-Arab States Cooperation Forum a success, and the Secretariat of the Arab Union will positively play a coordination role.