Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday that he was not surprised to see a poll that shows China is more popular than the US among people in Arab countries as China has always been a sincere and reliable friend to them.

The US magazine Newsweek reported on August 10 that Arab Barometer, a nonpartisan research network based at Princeton University in the US, conducted polling from October 2021 to April 2022 in countries including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia and Sudan. The result showed that people in the Arab states have more positive opinions about China than the US.

 "Through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has increased levels of economic engagement across the region," said Michael Robbins, director and co-principal investigator at Arab Barometer.

China always follows the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and stays committed to the principle of mutual respect and mutual benefit. China has always played a constructive role in the Arab world, Wang said.

We never seek geopolitical interests for ourselves, and we do not have any intention to fill up the so-called "power vacuum," Wang said.

China supports Arab countries and other countries in the Middle East in addressing regional security issues through solidarity and coordination, and supports people in the region in independently exploring their own development path, according to Wang. 

Wang said China is ready to work with Arab nations to support each other's national development and revitalization, jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East and steadily advance practical cooperation in various fields. This can deliver benefits for Chinese and Arab people while also defending true multilateralism and international justice and fairness, Wang noted.