From December 17 to 18, 2019, the eighth Symposium on China-Arab Relations and China-Arab Civilization Dialogue of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) was held in Rabat, capital of Morocco.

Zhai Jun, head of the Chinese delegation and Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue, along with Abdelkader El Ansari, head of the Arab delegation and Director for Asian Affairs and Oceania of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates and Souad Saihi, Director of Directorate of Culture in the Arab League, attended the symposium. The symposium was also attended by nearly 80 representatives, experts and scholars from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the State Council Information Office, the State Administration for Religious Affairs, well-known academic research institutions of China as well as from 17 Arab States and the Arab League.

The participants from both sides had in-depth dialogues and discussions on such topics as promoting a culture of peace through soft power diplomacy; the role of sustainable development in carrying forward a culture of peace; advancing cultural diversity; using traditional and modern means of communication to combat terrorist violence and extremist thoughts; and promoting dialogue among civilizations through cultural innovation. All delegates believed, against the background of profound changes in the current international and regional situation, China and Arab States should adhere to mutual respect and treat each other as equals, jointly oppose terrorism and extremism, jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthen exchange of experience in state governance and administration and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind. The delegates called on the two sides to continue efforts to strengthen the relevant mechanism building of the CASCF and give play to the CASCF's leading role in promoting China-Arab civilization dialogue, deepening China-Arab collective cooperation and upgrading China-Arab strategic partnership. The final report was adopted at the symposium.

On the sidelines of the symposium, Special Envoy Zhai Jun met with Taieb Fassi Fihri, Adviser to Moroccan King Mohammed VI on Foreign Affairs and Mohcine Jazouli, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates. They exchanged views on such topics as China-Morocco relations, strengthening dialogues between Chinese and Moroccan civilizations, and international and regional hotspot issues. After the symposium, Special Envoy Zhai Jun held a briefing on relevant situation of the symposium and gave an interview to journalists. Chinese and Moroccan mainstream media including Xinhua News Agency, China Central Television, Moroccan News Agency, Moroccan Public Broadcasting Company and Le Matin were present.

The Symposium on China-Arab Relations and China-Arab Civilization Dialogue, an important institutional activity under the framework of CASCF, is held every two years. Since 2005, the symposium has been successfully held for eight times in China and Arab States. The ninth symposium is scheduled to be held in China in 2021.