High hopes for critical Arab League summit

Editor's note: Tang Zhichao, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a senior researcher at the Institute of West Asian and African Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Saturday's Arab League summit in Baghdad, Iraq, marks the second such event hosted by Iraq since the 2003 U.S. invasion. Bringing together heads of Arab states and governments, the summit is looking at the pressing challenges in the Middle East, such as the Gaza situation, the establishment of an independent Palestine state, and security issues in Syria, Libya and Yemen.

The Middle East is once again at a critical juncture in history. A series of recent drastic changes have profoundly altered the region's geopolitical landscape. From a region of division and conflict, it saw development and transformation, moderation and stability. However, it is now once again under duress, facing both internal conflicts as well as external pressures.

Internally, the Palestinian issue is at its most severe. Millions of people in Gaza are facing a survival crisis. Syria, Libya, Yemen and Sudan, which though not in the Middle East is still part of the Arab fraternity, are at a critical juncture of conflict versus stability and reconstruction. Even some members of the Arab League have seen their relations with other members in the region deteriorate.

From an external perspective, some non-Arab countries are exerting significant pressure on the Arab world. The U.S. continues to play a negative role in regional stability with its support of Israel, its military threat against Iran, its so-called reciprocal tariffs globally which have also impacted Arab countries, as well as its strategic major power competition which is forcing Arab countries to take sides. These are not only the main sources of regional unrest, but also pose huge challenges for regional development.

But despite the headwinds, the Arab countries are also embracing important opportunities and have undergone a series of encouraging and positive changes. The global evolution is increasingly moving in favor of the Global South, including Arab countries, who are playing an increasingly important role in building the new international order.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Iraq and other countries are playing the role of mediators, contributing to world peace and regional stability.

Against the backdrop of increasing risks of a global economic downturn, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are backing global development and have strengthened their unity, raising a concerted voice on major regional and global issues.

China-Arab relations have also entered a new era of all-round development. In 2022, China and Arab countries agreed to establish a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era. They have built a stronger strategic mutual trust and the development of their relations is of great significance for achieving peace and development in the Middle East as well as world stability.

Looking ahead, China and Arab states should continue to promote a China-Arab community with a shared future and strengthen such valuable strategic cooperation. To achieve this goal, the first step is to support each other's core interests and safeguard sovereignty and security.

Moreover, both should advance high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and be good partners in development. They should cooperate to promote peace and stability in the Middle East as well as strengthen unity and cooperation under the framework of the Global South to promote world peace and development.

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