On May 6, 2010, Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun met with the joint press delegation from West Asian and North African countries. Zhai extended welcome to the journalists who visit China during the Shanghai World Expo and the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. He said the Shanghai World Expo, as another great event following the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, provides a rare opportunity for the world to understand China and for China to understand the world as well. The Fourth Ministerial Meeting of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum will discuss China-Arab relations and the forum's development, which is of great significance to the future development of China-Arab ties. Zhai spoke highly of China's friendly relations with West Asian and North African countries, expressing hope that the journalists will give a comprehensive and objective introduction of China to their people and play a positive role in promoting mutual understanding and friendship between people in China and in West Asian and North African countries. Zhai also took questions from the journalists on issues including bilateral relations between China and relevant West Asian and North African countries, China-Arab cooperation and China's development.

    The joint press delegation is composed of chiefs and senior journalists from the mainstream media of 20 countries. In addition to Beijing, Shanghai and Jiangsu province, it will visit Tianjin.