China hopes to further expand cooperation with Arab countries in various fields and promote common development by actively exploring new cooperation mechanism, China's special envoy on the Middle East said?in Damascus?on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Damascus, Sun Bigan, China's Special Envoy on the Middle East, said high-level contacts between China and the Arab countries are frequent as the two sides set up strategic friendship and cooperation in various forms.

Meanwhile, the two sides support each other on the international arena, noted Sun, who came to Damascus?to attend the 20th Arab summit on Saturday and Sunday as a representative of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at the invitation of Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem.

"Generally speaking, the Arab countries show support to China on the Taiwan issue, the Tibet issue and the issue of human rights, which is very valuable to China," the envoy said.

"China also supports the Arab countries' sovereignty, territorial integrity and legitimate national rights," he continued.

On the economic file, Sun said good momentum of economic and trade cooperation were witnessed by the two sides, putting the volume of Sino-Arab trade in 2007 at 86.4 billion US dollars.

The Chinese official also mentioned the forthcoming Third Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum Ministerial Meeting scheduled for May in Bahrain.

"China attaches great importance to this meeting and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will head a delegation there," said Sun.

China hopes to exchange views with the Arab countries on major international and regional issues on this occasion, discuss means to strengthen Sino-Arab relations and prepare for the establishment of a new partnership between China and the Arab countries, he noted.

The two sides will also determine priorities in their cooperation for the next two years, said the envoy.

Sun arrived in Damascus on Wednesday for a six-day visit. He would take part in the opening and closing ceremony of the summit.

(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2008)