Heavy shuttle talks alongside forum

As part of his official visit in the gulf kingdom, Yang met with Bahrain's Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa and hold talks with his Bahraini counterpart Sheikh Khaled.

Hamad and Shaikh Khalifa hailed the Bahraini-Chinese ties and cooperation in commercial, economic, investment sectors and lauded China's leading role in boosting global security and peace.

Yang said China will make joint efforts with Bahrain in stepping up political trust, economic cooperation, cultural exchanges so as to bring bilateral relations to a new height.

Besides official meetings, Yang managed to make several improvised meetings on the sidelines of the session with AL chief Moussa, foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria and Mauritius.

Yang also made extensive contact with other ministers or representatives from the Arab countries to confer on bilateral ties and cooperation.

The forum meeting provided an opportunity for Arab nations to address relative issues as well.

During his meeting with Arab delegates, King Hamad praised the Arab states for their active participation of the forum which he said reflected eagerness to make dialogue.

"We should make use of the forum to strengthen coordination of major regional issues so as to help ease the tense situation in some region," Yang said.

Coinciding with the forum, the long-stalled Lebanese peace talks in Qatar's Doha reached a breakthrough deal between the Lebanese sides, which gave a joyous atmosphere of the forum.

Yang said with joint efforts from both China and Arab nations, the forum has set up a framework for increasing political, economic and cultural relations and become an effective mechanism to enhance dialogue.

The fourth ministerial meeting of the forum will be held in China in 2010.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2008)