ISTANBUL

China on Wednesday said Beijing’s relations with Arab nations have fostered “peaceful development," state media reported.

“Pragmatic cooperation between China and Arab countries continues to deepen,” said Mao Ning, spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry.

Mao said Beijing has signed cooperation agreements with all 22 Arab countries and the Arab League to “collaboratively advance” China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Beijing’s statement comes on the eve of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum which is slated for Thursday.

Beijing and the Arab states are marking the 20th anniversary of the forum, which was founded in 2004.

“The strengthening of China-Arab relations not only benefits the people on both sides but also fosters peaceful development in the Middle East,” said Mao.

Four Arab leaders will attend the forum in Beijing, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Tunisian President Kais Saied, and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan are expected to reach Beijing on Wednesday.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi landed in the Chinese capital on Tuesday.

The Arab leaders will also hold separate bilateral talks with Xi.

Palestine and the peace in the Middle East are among the issues that Arab leaders will discuss with Xi.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Salem Ould Merzouk will co-chair the forum.

Foreign ministers or representatives of the Arab states and the secretary-general of the League of Arab States will also attend the forum.

The forum serves as a formal dialogue initiative between China and the Arab League to discuss the primary multilateral coordination mechanism between the world's second-largest economy and the Arab states