On March 24, 2021 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf in Riyadh.

Wang Yi said, this year marks the 40th anniversary of GCC's founding. In the past four decades, the GCC has played an important role in promoting the economic and social development of its member states and has become the most dynamic regional organization in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of establishment of the relations between China and the GCC. The bilateral relations have witnessed remarkable achievement in the past 40 years, and are now standing on a new historical starting point. China is ready to take the 40th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations as an opportunity to explore ways to elevate the level of bilateral relations, strengthen mutual support from a long-term and strategic perspective, firmly safeguard each other's national sovereignty and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas. China hopes the free trade talks between China and the GCC will be concluded at an earlier date, which will help GCC member states to offset the pressure of economic downturn and realize quick recovery. China is willing to boost cooperation with the GCC in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and build a community of health for all. As a good friend of the GCC, China is ready to play a constructive role in safeguarding regional security. China has proposed a five-point initiative for security and stability in the Middle East this time, and believes that the initiative will be supported by the GCC.

Nayef said that the relations between the GCC and China are based on mutual trust and respect, and the GCC and all its members value the strategic cooperation with China. The GCC side is willing to join hands with China to create a better future. Noting China tops the GCC's list of resuming free trade negotiations, Nayef hopes that the GCC-China talks will end with an agreement as soon as possible, so to enhance cooperation in the digital economy and high-tech areas and achieve mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation. The GCC supports China's efforts in fighting the pandemic, and hopes to learn from China's advanced experience in the pandemic prevention and control. The GCC welcomes and highly commends China's important role in safeguarding the stability of the Middle East, and is willing to further enhance its cooperation with China in this regard.