China is ready to work with Arab states to continue strengthening cultural and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation to lay a solid foundation for the China-Arab strategic partnership, President Xi Jinping said.

In a congratulatory letter to the closing on Thursday of the fourth Arabic Arts Festival, held in Chengdu, Sichuan province, Xi said the festival is an important event to enhance understanding between Chinese and Arab people.

He hailed the strategic partnership between China and Arab countries as comprehensive, future-oriented cooperation with common development.

Xi called on the two sides to make joint efforts to build a China-Arab community with a shared future and contribute to advancing the building of such a community for all of mankind.

Xi had announced the beginning of the festival at the opening ceremony of the eighth ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in July in Beijing.

Over the past three months, the two sides organized more than 20 cultural events in China, covering topics such as books, music, dance, painting and photography.

At the July meeting, Xi also announced the official launch of a China-Arab media center and the China-Arab E-library Portal, and said the China-Arab Reform and Development Research Center should be strengthened to provide more intellectual support for both sides.

To enhance the mutual understanding of the two peoples, China will invite 100 young leaders, 200 young scientists and 300 science professionals from the Arab countries to China in the next three years.

XINHUA-CHINA DAILY