KHARTOUM, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A senior Arab League (AL) official said on Monday that Arab countries have responded positively to initiatives put forward by China to promote bilateral ties, while envisaging the establishment of a strategic relationship between the two sides.

    "Arab countries are paying attention to pushing forward their ties with China," AL Assistant Secretary-General Ahmed Ben Hali told Xinhua.

    He said the Arab world would like to take steps to promote cooperation with China, which he termed as a political and economic heavyweight in the world.

    "Arab countries are willing to deepen cooperation with China based on wise partnership and strong links," he said, expressing his hope that bilateral ties would move in the direction of shaping a strategic relationship.

    He added that the second ministerial meeting of the Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum, due in the Chinese capital of Beijing on May 31 and June 1, would play a positive role in strengthening ties between the two sides.

    The first such meeting was held in the Cairo-based AL headquarters in September 2004.

    Arab leaders are expected to gather in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on March 28-29 to discuss pressing regional issues. The main agenda items will be the volatile situation in Iraq, the Palestinian-Israeli peace process (in light of the political victory of the radical Hamas group), and the host's Darfur issue. Enditem