BEIJING — State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi in Beijing on July 9.

China views Qatar as an important country for the joint construction of the Belt and Road and a key partner for cooperation in the Gulf region, Wang said, adding that China hopes to take the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as a new starting point, and further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation.

China supports the settlement of existing problems in the Gulf region through dialogue and negotiations, and hopes related parties resolve their differences through friendly consultation, Wang said.

Muraikhi, who is in Beijing to attend the eighth ministerial meeting of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, said Qatar is ready to deepen cooperation with China in the construction process of the Belt and Road and safeguard the global free trade system.

Qatar appreciates China for always supporting the just cause of Arab countries in Middle East issues, especially on the Palestine issue, and for the objective and fair position that China holds in Gulf region affairs, Muraikhi said.

After the talks, the two sides signed an agreement on mutual exemption of visas between China and Qatar.