Wen Giabao:China's Relations With Qatar Strategic

Doha, January 18 (QNA) -The Chinese Prime Minister Wen Giabao Wednesday described his country's relations with Qatar as strategic, noting that China has been seeking to boost the exchange of visits and bilateral cooperation covering various sectors. Wen said at a news conference at Ritz Carlton Hotel that his country was committed to implementing the agreements signed during his current Gulf trip in order to step up cooperation between China and Qatar as well as other GCC countries. Wen noted that his talks in Qatar will cover investment sectors. He said his country wanted to establish a long-term relationship with Qatar in the natural gas sector . The issue was one of the most important topics that he discussed with Qatar officials , he said. He also pointed out that cooperation between the two sides will focus on issues of priority to Qatar such as refinery and petrochemicals industry. Both sides agreed on the establishment of a joint refinery venture in China and on encouraging Chinese companies to invest in Qatar. Such cooperation will have a positive impact on relations between the two countries, he explained. Replying to a question relating to the current developments in the region with emphasis on the situation in Syria, the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Giabao said the conditions in the gulf region and the middle east concern China so much especially the Syrian crisis . Concernig his country's position vis-a-vis Syria's cause, Wen Giabao said his country's stand is represented in calling for a peaceful and political solution to the crisis and halting and preventing the killing of the innocent there . He stressed meantime the need to respond to the demands of the Syrian people for change, reform and protecting and preserving their interests , reaffirming meantime the importance of reactivating the role of the Arab League to help bring about a political and peaceful solution to the crisis via dilogue. Touching on Iran's nuclear file and Tehran's threats to block the Hormuz Straits in case of being subjected to an attack, the Chinese Premier asserted his country's absolute rejection and refusal to possession by Iran of any nuclear weapons underlining however the need to keep the middle east region without exception a region or zone free of any nuclear weapons .... China's position concerning such issue is firm and unshakable'', Chinese Prime Minister Wen Giabao said. Elaborating Wen Giabao told reporters attending his news conference held at Ritz Carlton Hotel here tonight, that his country supports whatever efforts , mediation and dialogue between the states of 5+1 , namely iran for bringing about a peaceful solution to the iranin nuclear dossier confirming his country's complete readiness to exert joint efforts in this respect. He further said,'' It is not a secret for any one that there are trade transactions between China and Tehran, but at the same time we will not make a deal at the expense of our principles and we have voted on the UN resolutions providing for imposing sanctions on Iran noting meantime that China will not exercise any practices that run counter to these decisions''. The Chinese Premier who is now on a two-day official visit to qatar as part of his current tour of the GCC members which has already taken him to saudi arabia and the UAE, has warned of any extremist action in this region that proved contrary to the desire of all the peoples of the world, a clear reference to the blocking by iran of the hormuz straits which is vital for the entire world and interests of humanity. HE Chinese Prime Minister Wen Giabao drescibed as fruitful and successful, the outcomes of his current tour of the GCC members and which so far have included both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , the UAE and Qatar... " We came to the states we visited for friendship and not for oil ... I come to enhance mutual confidence which is pure and clear of any problems since it is the joint interests and joint cooperation which link between our peoples which make it imperative on them to unify their efforts to meet the challenges'', Chinese Prime Minister Wen Giabao told reporters. ''I came to these countries, carrying the feelings of affection of the Chinese people to the people Arab and China's desire to develop relations of cooperation between them and the Gulf States'', he told reporters. Elaborating the chinese premier said that during the tour he held talks with leaders of these countries and reached broad consensus and agreed to raise our relations to a strategic level .. In Saudi Arabia, we agreed to raise our relations in the framework of the strategic relationship between us and in the UAE , we agreed to launch a partnership, and here in Qatar, we decided to promote mutual visits at the leadership level to enhance the strategic relations between China and Qatar. Responding to a question on the conditions of muslims in china,Chinese Prime Minister Wen Giabao pointed out that the arab-chinese relationship is dated back to 2200 years since the silk road, stressing meantime that China respects the civilization of a a billion and five hundred million Muslims in the world. .. While about 20 million Muslims are living in China which respects their traditions and teachings, "and we deal with Muslims in China on an equal footing politically, culturally and socially," HE the chinese premier told reporters. He also pointed out that there is in China now, a lot of new mosques, and said that Muslims are living and working in the framework of their teachings and traditions and the freedom of religious belief and equality available to all children of ethnic groups in the country, "This is one of the most important fundamentals of China," he said. He reiterated that the people of China was concerned by the political turmoil in the region and the Middle East and that its responsibilities towards all this, calling for the settlement of problems in a peaceful and political channel or way for the security and stability of this region, which he said enjoys a strategic and vital location and vast oil resources and a key importance to the world. HE Chinese Prime Minister Wen Giabao also called again to respect the demands of the peoples of the region to reform and change, the fact that people are the makers of history, and said that the first and last point of any government is to respond to the interests of its people. He viewed that there are several reasons behind the unrest and protests that waved the arab world noting that the main reasons are internal ones, and every government has to assume its responsibilities and to stand with determination, courage and determination in front of challenges. (END)