During the celebration of the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Venice Hotel, Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Qian Mingjian praised the relations between the two countries, noting that exchanges in various fields have resulted in fruitful outcomes. He highlighted that "China is one of Lebanon's largest trade partners and the largest source of its imports." Since 2006, China has actively participated in peacekeeping operations in southern Lebanon, sending twenty batches of peacekeeping forces comprising more than 7,000 individuals, successfully completing many tasks such as mine clearance, construction, maintenance, and providing medical assistance, among others.
The Chinese ambassador pointed out that in January, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati during the first China-Arab summit, which injected new momentum into relations between the two countries. In the first half of this year, the volume of bilateral trade between China and Lebanon reached 1.22 billion US dollars, marking an annual increase of 1.2%. He noted that the structural framework for the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music, funded by a grant from China, has been established and is now in the stage of exterior decoration and interior design.
He revealed that in the next phase, China wishes to work with Lebanon to implement the agreements reached by the leaders of both countries, support Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, assist Lebanon in maintaining national peace and stability, enhance coordination and cooperation with Lebanon at various international multilateral events to protect international fairness and justice, and continue to faithfully carry out peacekeeping tasks, contributing China's strength to maintaining peace in Lebanon and the region. He also emphasized strengthening the alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and Lebanon's development plan and continuously improving the level of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Lebanon while working together to promote the rapid and long-term development of friendship between the two nations.
The ambassador noted that this year marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past ten years, the initiative has become an open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial platform for international cooperation that benefits all countries. More than 150 countries, including Lebanon, and over thirty international organizations have signed cooperation documents for the Belt and Road Initiative. China has invested in over 3,000 projects, and its trade volume with partners has increased from one trillion US dollars in 2013 to two trillion US dollars, forming a broader, wider, and deeper pattern of openness to the world. Next month, China will host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. China hopes to work with Lebanon and other countries along the Silk Road to adhere to the concept of cooperation characterized by consultation, sharing, and contribution, paving the way for broader and more distant cooperation that benefits the world.
