DUBAI, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The 5th Arab-China Political Strategic Dialogue and the 16th meeting of senior officials of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum were held in Abu Dhabi, the official news agency WAM reported on Wednesday.

The two sides exchanged views on major international and regional issues of common concern and agreed to further strengthen coordination and cooperation in various fields.

The meeting was chaired by Wang Di, director-general of the Department of West Asian and North African Affairs at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, deputy minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation for political affairs.

In his speech, Wang praised the development of Sino-Arab relations and the achievements made in the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative and the forum on Sino-Arab cooperation.

He said China is willing to strengthen coordination with Arab countries, jointly oppose terrorism and extremism and strengthen dialogue and exchanges.

Arab representatives expressed appreciation over the development of relations with China and willingness to work with China within the framework of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum.