"A goal in a region like the Middle East should be stability through cooperation, through economic cooperation to build win-win relations between the countries. We saw economic stability as a main factor in reducing extremism and conflicts."
This claim came in an exclusive interview with the Secretary General of the Future Movement in Lebanon, Ahmed Hariri, who attended the three-day 2025 Understanding China Conference held in Guangzhou with the theme "New Plan, New Development, New Choices: Chinese Modernization and New Vision for Global Governance."
Hariri detailed three approaches to Chinese modernization and expected China's bigger role in pursuing peace in the Middle East via economic collaboration with Lebanon and other Arab countries.
Three approaches to Chinese modernization
Hariri attributed this to three approaches to Chinese modernization, namely, long-term strategy, a state-guided economy, and poverty alleviation.
"China's development was driven by a multi-decade stable strategy," he highlighted.
He assessed that this is most important if China seeks to achieve development with such a large population.
Additionally, what helps China is a state-guided economy, as Hariri pointed out. The state-guided economy in a country with over 1 billion people is essential.
Third is how China resolves the problem of poverty, an essential program in his eyes.
Hariri explained that during past visits, when they came as a party delegation to China, the Communist Party of China explained to them in detail how they implemented these poverty alleviation programs and how this helped stabilize China by creating a large and expanded middle class.
"This was the key to prosperity in any country, especially in China. With the global insecurity that is happening, China is navigating with stability through its middle class," he added.
What can Lebanon benefit from China?
"Lebanon and China have a long history of relations. This relationship stems from the fact that geographically we are in one region," Hariri noted.
"There are many opportunities that Lebanon can benefit from this relationship," the leader of the Future Movement stated. He outlined three aspects for his country to benefit from China: access to financing, digital technology, and infrastructure development.
"We can use this expertise to foster cooperation between Lebanese firms and Chinese firms to try to develop Lebanon again after the economic collapse that occurred," Hariri noted.
China's clout in promoting peace via development in the Middle East
The Middle East has historically been one of the most active conflict zones.
"China has the influence worldwide to move forward towards peace," Hariri underscored. He illustrated how China mediated between Iran and Saudi Arabia and how it helped broker a deal that positively affected the Middle East.
Between the Arab region, the Middle East, and China, there is a vast history. China can play a bigger role in the region, as Hariri proposed.
The Middle East is shifting towards prioritizing the economy, based on his observation. First of all, the Arab region, especially the Gulf countries, is establishing good relations with China and opening new markets.
Second, there is also the promotion of green energy by China, including electric vehicles, solar panels, and so on. Hariri believes that clean energy may be a significant field of cooperation between the two regions.
Reporter | Zhang Ruijun
Video | Guo Hongda
Cameraman | Qin Shaolong
Script | Zhang Ruijun
Poster | Lai Meiya
Editor | Ouyang Yan, Yuan Zixiang, Ou Xiaoming, James Campion, Shen He
