China hoped to lift media cooperation with Arab countries to a new level, said a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing Tuesday.

Liu Yunshan (L), head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, meets with members of an Arab media delegation in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 8, 2009. [Xie Huanchi/Xinhua]

Liu Yunshan, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with a media delegation composed of 25 press officers and heads of mainstream media organizations from 14 Arab nations.

Liu said China and the Arab countries had enhanced political mutual trust and cooperated closely on many major regional and international issues in recent years.

"China appreciated the Arab nations' support on issues concerning its sovereignty and core interests," he noted.

He said China attached great importance to developing ties with the Arab nations, and was willing to cement China-Arab friendship and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

Exchanges and cooperation between media circles were important components of China-Arab cooperation, he said, adding he hoped the two sides to make concerted efforts to boost China-Arab media cooperation.

Sarwat Mekky, head of the delegation and secretary-general of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union, said the members of the delegation expected to deepen their understanding of China through the current visit and to promote exchanges and cooperation with China's media circles.