League of Arab States (LAS) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said the organization chose Beijing, the Chinese capital, to celebrate its 80th anniversary in recognition of the deepening ties between the Arab world and China.
In an interview with China Media Group (CMG) that aired on Friday, Aboul-Gheit, who has visited China six times, said the League had already marked the milestone in Cairo, Egypt, but chose to also hold a symbolic celebration in Beijing to reflect the growing partnership.
"We made the choice of China, for the cooperation that we have had with the Chinese over the last 20 years. The Arab League and China established a kind of a forum of cooperation in 2004. So it is already 21 years. A ministerial meeting between the foreign minister of China and all the Arab foreign ministers once every two years. We have had also in 2022 in December in Saudi Arabia, the first China-Arab summit. We will be having the second China-Arab summit in Beijing in 2026. So we find easiness in the cooperation with China. And the Chinese are reciprocating to our friendship. So we are working together," said the secretary-general.
Looking ahead to the upcoming summit, Aboul-Gheit noted that the Arab League and China share a common optimism regarding the future of Arab-China relations.
"I hope it takes place in 2026. I hope that the greatest number of Arab leaders would attend and that the economic and political cooperation between the two sides, China and Arab countries, would last as long as we desire," he said.
Arab League celebrates 80th anniversary in Beijing to highlight stronger ties: chief
A group of Japanese citizens held a rally in front of the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Friday, voicing strong opposition to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan and her military expansion plans.
Protesters held up signs and chanted slogans at the rally, condemning Takaichi's wrongful remarks.
"Takaichi's remarks clearly deviate from the previous administration's position. Her claim that a 'Taiwan contingency' could constitute a 'survival-threatening situation' for Japan is an extremely dangerous provocation for war. We absolutely cannot tolerate such statements," said a protester.
"Regarding Takaichi's so-called 'Taiwan contingency' remarks, I believe it was a serious transgression. In an instant, it destroyed the long-accumulated exchanges between our peoples. We have always adhered to the one-China principle, and our people absolutely cannot tolerate such statements," said Masashi Tani, secretary general of the Japan Congress against A-and H-Bombs.
Protesters said that Takaichi's actions since taking office, including revising three national security documents, relaxing restrictions on arms exports, and planning to increase the defense budget, have not only failed to enhance Japan's security but have instead heightened regional tensions.
"This is an administration that could push Japan toward war. I remain highly vigilant about a series of extremely dangerous plans, such as further increasing the defense budget and revising three national security documents. In my view, such a person is utterly unfit to serve as prime minister and should step down as soon as possible," said a protester.
Protesters also argued that Takaichi's rush to dissolve the House of Representatives was based on her own political calculation rather than a response to the real difficulties faced by the public.
"As for Takaichi's forceful dissolution of the House of Representatives, I cannot help but doubt whether she truly understands the real hardships faced by the public. In politics, the primary consideration should be the lives of the people, especially those struggling in cold waves and heavy snow," Tani said.
Japanese citizens rally against Takaichi's Taiwan remarks, military buildup
