Hours before the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, China and Timor-Leste announced the elevation of their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The upgrading of bilateral ties is a "practical necessity" for the two countries to advance their cooperation and a shared expectation of the two peoples, said Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao of Timor-Leste in the host city of the Games on Saturday.
Xi said China supports Timor-Leste in better integrating itself into the region's development and is ready to join hands with it on the journey of modernization to bring more benefits to the two peoples.
As China hosts the 19th edition of the Asian Games, also known as the Asiad, the Chinese leader has engaged himself in a flurry of face-to-face high-level meetings with foreign leaders attending the opening ceremony over the past two days.
During the talks, Xi and the leaders reaffirmed the significance of friendship, unity and cooperation, expressed opposition to interference in others' domestic affairs and bullying, and pledged to write a new chapter in the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
'Golden rule'
When meeting with Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in Hangzhou on Friday, the Chinese president said China is ready to work with the country to safeguard the principle of non-interference in other countries' domestic affairs, the "golden rule" for developing countries.
The two leaders last met in December 2022 when Xi went to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit.
China and Arab states will oppose interference, according to the Riyadh Declaration issued at the first China-Arab States Summit. The countries also agree to make all-out efforts to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.
During Friday's meeting, the Kuwaiti crown prince expressed satisfaction with the achievements of bilateral cooperation, and said the country will firmly support and actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a joint statement on the China-Kuwait cooperation plan from 2024 to 2028, and bilateral cooperation documents in areas including renewable energy, infrastructure and environmental governance.
'No bullying'
China and Syria have ushered in an important milestone in their relations as the two leaders announced the establishment of a strategic partnership on Friday.
During a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who visited China 19 years ago, in Hangzhou, Xi said China supports Syria in opposing foreign interference, rejecting unilateralism and bullying, and safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Syria was one of the first Arab countries that established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and was one of the countries that co-sponsored the resolution to restore the lawful seat of the PRC in the United Nations.
China supports Syria in conducting reconstruction, enhancing counter-terrorism capacity building, promoting a political settlement of the Syrian issue following the "Syrian-led, Syrian-owned" principle, and improving relations with other Arab countries and playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, Xi noted.
Both sides have agreed on strengthening BRI cooperation and jointly implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative to make active contributions to regional and global peace and development.
(Cover: Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for group photos with guests at a welcoming banquet ahead of the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, capital city of Zhejiang, September 23, 2023. /Xinhua)