China-Arab Relations: Between Official Diplomacy and Civil Diplomacy

Abstract

Abstract This paper analyzes the cultural and social dimensions of the concept of civil diplomacy, encompassing various aspects of intellectual, artistic, literary, and creative life. It reflects the dynamism of cultural life on national, ethnic, and humanistic levels. People-to-people diplomacy is a theoretical concept that symbolizes the protection of basic human rights in terms of knowledge, work, housing, freedom of expression, and the right of people to defend themselves and build their communities freely, according to their core interests, without external pressures. It utilizes media channels to promote relations between nations and relies on civil initiatives and non-governmental organizations to generate widespread public opinion that contributes to raising awareness among people in various fields. Civil diplomacy has contributed to enhancing positive cooperation between nations and has helped expand the scope of collaboration among people’s organizations advocating for the fundamental interests of their communities. The paper addresses the origins of diplomatic representation between China and Arab countries, the cultural and social dimensions of China-Arab civil diplomacy, the distinguished experience of the Arab-Chinese Friendship Association from 2006 to 2023, China’s and Arab countries’ efforts to build a more humane globalization, and the future prospects of civil diplomacy in the development of China-Arab relations build a more humane globalization, and the future prospects of civil diplomacy in the development of China-Arab relations.