On October 16, 2025, Lu Xiangdong, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met in Xi'an with Abdulrahman Al-Asfour, Secretary-General of the Arab Towns Organization (ATO), and Ahmed Al Ghassani, Chairman of the Dhofar Municipality, Oman. The two guests were in China for the 2025 World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Executive Bureau Meeting and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) "Bridge for Cities" 10th Anniversary Special Event.
Vice President Lu extended a warm welcome to Al-Asfour and Al-Ghassani. He noted that, China and Arab countries cherish a time-honored friendship. In recent years, under the guidance of Chinese and Arab heads of state, political mutual trust has been increasingly consolidated, and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative has progressed steadily and concretely, setting an example of unity and cooperation among developing countries.
Lu said that the CPAFFC attaches great importance to advancing local government cooperation and sister-city exchanges between China and Arab countries. The CPAFFC and the ATO have jointly held three sessions of the Chinese-Arab Cities Forum, an important institutional platform under the framework of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. China commends the ATO's efforts in establishing the forum mechanism and appreciates Dhofar Governorate's active input in the organization of the 4th China-Arab Cities Forum in 2026. The CPAFFC stands ready to work closely with the ATO to ensure the forum's success and will invite representatives of Chinese local governments to participate.
Al-Asfour noted that, thanks to joint efforts, the Chinese-Arab Cities Forum has contributed to deepening the strategic partnership between Arab states and China as a local-government level initiative. The ATO will work closely with the Chinese side for further achievements in the exchanges between Arab and Chinese cities. Al-Ghassani pointed to Oman's role as an important hub on the ancient Silk Road, expressing that hosting the 4th China-Arab Cities Forum in Oman contributes to Oman-China traditional friendship and the overall friendship and cooperation between Arab countries and China. Dhofar Municipality will work with the Chinese side for a thoroughly prepared forum.
Xu Yan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Asian and African Affairs of the CPAFFC, attended the meeting.
