BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhua) -- China and Arab states agreed on Thursday to step up anti-terror cooperation in bilateral, regional and multi-lateral fields.

    The agreement is part of a communique signed in the wake of the second Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum which concluded Thursday afternoon.

    "China and Arab states condemn terrorism of any form and oppose linking up terrorism with certain nationality or religion," the communique says.

    "China and Arab states support Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz's proposal on establishing an international anti-terror center," the communique says.

    Abdullah's proposal was put forward at the international anti-terror conference held in Riyadh in February 2005.

    As for the nuclear situation in the Middle East, the communique says China supports the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East and all the countries in the region should abide by relevant pacts on prohibiting nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.

    Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Amr Mahmoud Moussa has called for establishing a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East during an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

    "It is not a nuclear issue of Iran but a nuclear issue of the Middle East," Moussa said.

    The communique says that China supports the Arab states' strategic choice to realize the just and all-round peace of the Middle East, which is based on their adherence to relevant UN resolutions, the land-for-peace principle, the Arab peace initiative and the roadmap peace plan for the Middle East.

    China backs to restore the legitimate rights of Arab people, particularly the rights of Arab people in Palestine to establish their independent country, and accomplish the lasting peace of the Middle East, the communique says.

    Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmud al-Zahar said on Wednesday that the Palestinian government would study the Arab peace initiative with a "serious and positive attitude" to seek a just solution to the Palestinian issue.

    "China welcomes Mahmud al-Zahar's remark, which is a positive signal," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told the regular news conference Thursday.

    In the communique, China and Arab states reiterate the respect for Iraq's unification, sovereignty and independence, and noninterference in its internal affairs. Iraqi people's wish and independent option for their future will also be respected.

    "China and Arab states condemn the terrorist activities targeting at Iraqi people, infrastructure and democratic process as well as the abduction against diplomats," the communique says.

    The two-day meeting was attended by delegates from China and 22Arab countries, who also signed an action plan for 2006-2008, an environmental cooperation plan and a memorandum of understanding for a meeting between Chinese and Arab entrepreneurs. Enditem