Three forums were held during the China-Arab States Political Parties Dialogue Extraordinary Meeting in Beijing from June 22 to 24. Political leaders and academics shared their insights on a wide range of topics, including strengthening international cooperation in battling the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the international and Middle East landscape in the post-pandemic era, and future bilateral strategic relations. These are excerpts from their speeches:

World political parties’ opinion on strengthening international cooperation in battling the COVID-19 pandemic

Luan Jianzhang, China 

Director, Research Office of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC), Director, World Political Party Research Institute of IDCPC

The epidemic has exposed the shortcomings and deficiencies in global public health governance. Going beyond their own national affairs, political parties should be concerned with world events and actively participate in global public health governance.

Youssoufa Mohamed Ali, Comoros 

General Secretary, Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros

This crisis has taught us that the real culprit is not globalization, but globalization without cooperation, control and coordination. Isolation and xenophobia cannot address the risks that threaten humanity and world peace.

 Ebrahim Ahmed Abdo, Djibouti

National Secretary for Communication, People’s Rally for Progress 

On behalf of President Ismail Omar Guelleh, I would like to congratulate the Government of China on its great victory in the fight against the epidemic and to express our gratitude to China for its solidarity with the world, including Djibouti.

Sayed Abdel Aal, Egypt

Chairman, Tagammu Party 

The impact of the epidemic on humankind would have been fatal without the timely and effective efforts of the CPC, the Chinese Government and the people of China, modern scientific methods, and the sharing of information on the epidemic with scientific institutions and the peoples of the world to help countries deal with this great danger.

Abdul Karim al-Ansari, Iraq 

Vice Secretary General, Badr Organization

The epidemic once again proves that the destiny of humankind is shared and that all parties should uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity and work together to address risks and challenges.

Nidal Mudiya, Jordan 

Deputy General Secretary, Jordanian Communist Party

Any omission in the fight against the epidemic could put the world at risk, and global forces of different political views, including progressive and democratic forces, should actively think about ways to address the challenges of the epidemic.

Abdul Rahim Mourad, Lebanon 

Member of Parliament, Chairman, Union Party

The countries of the world should develop a new concept of cooperation in the wake of the epidemic. Instead of engaging in an arms race and pursuing a policy of confrontation, countries should engage in healthy competition for the health and well-being of all humankind.

Abdellatif Ouahbi, Morocco

Secretary General, Authenticity and Modernity Party 

In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Authenticity and Modernity Party has taken the lead in helping people fight the epidemic.

Nizar Baraka, Morocco

Secretary General, Independence Party

This global public health crisis requires us to reflect deeply and draw lessons, and to work together to build a new post-epidemic vision and a new world economic order that transcends the logic of profit-making.

Bassam al-Salhi, Palestine

General Secretary, Palestinian People’s Party

We support joint research by the nations of the world to improve the global public health system and learn the lessons of capitalism, imperialism and capitalist globalization.

Najam Khraet, Syria

General Secretary, Syrian Communist Party (Unified)

We, the political parties, have the important task of working within our respective countries and on a global scale to build a multipolar world free from weapons of mass destruction and plague.

Mohamed Abbou, Tunisia

Minister of Anti-Corruption, General Secretary of Democratic Current

The epidemic has given the world an opportunity to think in a different way, away from weapons, violence, economic control and selfishness. It has also made it possible to bring peoples closer together in ideas and distance and to strengthen international cooperation in areas such as the fight against disease, backwardness and the rejection of war.

Mohammed Al-makhlafi, Yemen

Deputy General Secretary, Yemeni Socialist Party

The helplessness of developed countries in the face of the epidemic exposed the structural contradictions of the neoliberal system in capitalist societies.