Chinese Ambassador Visits Saida: Lebanon Is a Partner in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and We Await Stability to Move Forward with Projects

Chinese Ambassador Visits Saida:
Lebanon Is a Partner in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and We Await Stability to Move Forward with Projects

Ali El Abdallah: The Private Sector Can Serve as a Key Bridge between Lebanon and China

Saida, August 13, 2026 — Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Chen Chuan Dong said that Lebanon is a partner in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, noting that the Lebanese and Chinese governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding to this effect in 2017. He added that, once stability is restored in Lebanon, it would be appropriate to adopt an accelerated approach to implementing projects.
Ambassador Chen made the remarks during a visit yesterday to Ali El Abdallah, President of the Lebanese-Chinese Businessmen and Businesswomen Association, as part of an official tour of Saida that included meetings with Acting Governor of South Lebanon and Nabatieh Mansour Daou, Acting Mayor of Saida Dr. Ahmad Akra, and Haret Saida Mayor Mustafa El Zein.





The Ambassador was accompanied by Political Attaché Mr. Wu Shutao, Commercial Attaché Mr. Zhang Hao, Cultural Attaché Mr. Pan Bai, and Protocol Assistant to the Ambassador Mr. He Xiaoheng.
The Ambassador and his delegation concluded their tour of Saida with a luncheon hosted in his honor by Ali El Abdallah at his residence, attended by prominent economic, security and social figures from Saida, as well as members of the Lebanese-Chinese Businessmen and Businesswomen Association.
During his visit to Saida, the Ambassador also met with Ms. Bahia Hariri, Vice President of the Future Movement and President of the Hariri Foundation, at her residence in Hilaliyeh.
Strengthening Lebanese-Chinese Relations

During his visit to the headquarters of the Lebanese-Chinese Businessmen and Businesswomen Association, Ambassador Chen delivered remarks addressing Lebanese-Chinese relations.
He noted that Lebanon enjoys a strategic geographical location and valuable expertise, while the Lebanese people possess a particular strength in creativity and innovation. He stressed that these are among the areas in which China looks forward to developing cooperation with Lebanon, alongside the services and creative sectors and other fields that could be explored to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, including closer engagement with the business community.






He said:
“We have many joint projects between China and Lebanon. Of course, trade between the two countries continues to grow despite the challenges, and we are also trying to provide support and assistance to Lebanon in areas where we are able to help.





Last May, we provided a shipment of humanitarian assistance containing essential supplies for shelters and displaced families, and we are now working to arrange another shipment focusing on the healthcare sector.





Over the past two years, we have also provided solar energy systems to key industries and institutions, including Ogero, enabling it to supply its stations with electricity. This represented a transition towards renewable energy while also helping reduce energy costs.






There are also a number of smaller projects being implemented by the Embassy in cooperation with government institutions, municipalities and non-governmental organizations in Lebanon. We have donated solar-powered street lighting in areas of southern Lebanon, as well as in other mountainous regions. We have also donated medical equipment to a number of centers.
We have many activities and projects, and we are doing our utmost. We do not attach any conditions to the provision of assistance, and we respect the will of the Lebanese people.”

The Chinese-Built Conservatory





The Ambassador continued:
“The conservatory project being built by China will become a new landmark in Lebanon and the region. We believe it reflects Lebanon’s role as a cultural center, with its ancient heritage, resilience and strength. This is the message we want to convey to our friends in Lebanon and around the world.
It is also a message that we should not remain prisoners of crises, but should continue to move forward with our lives with strength and positivity. I also hope that this project will serve as a platform for greater cultural exchanges between China and Lebanon on the one hand, and between China and the Arab world on the other.”




 

55 Years of Diplomatic Relations

The Ambassador concluded:
“As Ambassador of China, my activities focus on representing my country in a friendly nation that is close to China. This year, we are celebrating the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries, and we are looking forward to exploring multiple areas in which to further strengthen cooperation.






At the political level, we continue to build mutual trust between the two sides and work closely with Lebanon in the field of peacekeeping in the south.
At the economic and trade levels, we are working to encourage both sides to strengthen their relations, while at the same time providing assistance.





At the cultural level, there are countless areas in which we can cooperate. Both China and Lebanon are rooted in ancient civilizations and share many commonalities. Moreover, the younger generations in both countries have a strong desire to further strengthen relations.”




 

Ali El Abdallah
For his part, Ali El Abdallah welcomed the Chinese Ambassador, saying:
“Lebanese-Chinese relations have been built on mutual respect and trust. This is China’s approach to building strong and distinguished relations. China extends a hand of friendship and respect to friendly nations and works tirelessly to consolidate its relations, firmly believing in the importance of openness, cooperation and mutual respect among countries.






Since the establishment of Lebanese-Chinese diplomatic relations, China has continued to support Lebanon across various fields and to stand by its side in international forums.
Our celebration this year of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of relations between our two countries is not merely a commemoration of a long history of cooperation and friendship. It is a historic milestone that calls for reflection and careful consideration of how to further develop relations with a country that today stands at the forefront of global technology and artificial intelligence.
It is a pivotal moment from which we can look towards the future and seek to build a new phase of broader and deeper cooperation between our two friendly countries.






At the Lebanese-Chinese Businessmen and Businesswomen Association, we firmly believe that the private sector can serve as a key bridge between the two countries, and that strengthening economic, trade and cultural relations should form the foundation for developing bilateral ties in the years ahead.
We should also remember that Lebanon’s private sector preceded the establishment of diplomatic relations, taking the initiative nearly 70 years ago to explore opportunities for developing relations with China. Diplomatic relations subsequently followed, giving further momentum and recognition to what the Lebanese private sector had already begun.






Today, we must work to expand opportunities for Lebanese exports to China, increase knowledge and trade exchanges, and, most importantly, encourage Chinese investment in Lebanon by opening the doors to cooperation across all sectors. At the same time, we should create opportunities for Lebanese companies to access Chinese markets and develop cooperation in fields such as technology, energy and infrastructure.






All of these projects contribute to deepening Lebanon’s engagement in China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
We look forward to translating the friendship between the two countries into tangible partnerships and concrete projects that benefit both Lebanon and China and open the way to a new phase of cooperation.”





Saida Meetings
During his visit to Acting Governor of South Lebanon and Nabatieh Mansour Daou, accompanied by Ali El Abdallah and attended by Regional Commander of the Internal Security Forces in South Lebanon Brigadier General Ahmad Abu Daher, Ambassador Chen Chuan Dong said that China remains committed to supporting Lebanon in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, while further strengthening bilateral cooperation.






He added:
“This is not my first visit to the city of Saida, but it is my first official visit in my capacity as Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China. It was an opportunity during which we agreed on the importance of developing and strengthening cooperation between the two countries, particularly at the level of South Lebanon and the city of Saida.”
Daou welcomed the Ambassador, stressing that his visit to Saida represented a highly important milestone in strengthening relations and cooperation, building mutual trust, and opening new avenues for joint action between the two sides.






The Ambassador and his delegation, accompanied by Ali El Abdallah, then visited Acting Mayor of Saida Dr. Ahmad Akra. The meeting was attended by members of the Municipal Council Baraa Hariri, Engy Atrouni, Majed Abdel Jawad and Ahmad Shuaib, as well as Wafaa Shuaib, Director of the Municipality’s Disaster and Crisis Management Unit.






The meeting addressed the situation in the city, as well as current development and humanitarian challenges.
In his third meeting, the Ambassador met with Haret Saida Mayor Mustafa El Zein, in the presence of his Deputy Hajj Ahmad Fayez Saleh, Ali El Abdallah, members of the Municipal Council, Deputy President of the Saida Traders Association Hajj Hassan Fadl Saleh, as well as a number of traders and prominent figures from the town and surrounding areas.






During the meeting, El Zein highlighted the role of Haret Saida as a model of diversity, coexistence and social solidarity. He stressed the municipality’s commitment to building channels of communication and cooperation with friendly countries and peoples, particularly the People’s Republic of China, and to benefiting from China’s expertise and experience in fields that can contribute to supporting local development.





For his part, Ambassador Chen Chuan Dong expressed his pleasure at visiting Haret Saida Municipality, thanking the Mayor, members of the Municipal Council and the people of the town for their warm welcome.





At the conclusion of the meeting, Haret Saida Municipality presented a commemorative shield to the Ambassador in recognition of his efforts and role in strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Lebanon and the People’s Republic of China. A commemorative shield was also presented to Ali El Abdallah in recognition of his role in strengthening Lebanese-Chinese relations and communication.





Haret Saida Municipality emphasized that the visit represented an important opportunity to strengthen dialogue and open new channels of cooperation. It expressed its commitment to following up on the ideas and proposals discussed in a manner that serves the common interest and supports the local development process, within the legal and administrative frameworks in force in the Lebanese Republic.