The China-Arab Friendship Association was founded by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries in 2001 in Beijing in order to further friendship and understanding between Chinese and Arab people. The MOU aims to promote cooperation in political, economic, culture and social studies. It stipulates that both parties exchange visits of scholars and researchers, publications and research as well as to conduct occasional joint studies on topics of mutual interest. The MOU was signed by Dr. Al-Sadiq, Secretary-General of the BCSR and Mrs Aysha Jia Ling, Secretary General of the China-Arab Friendship Association.

An early manifestation of the MOU was the concurrent visit of Professor Zhao Zhongxiu, Dean of the School of International Trade and Economics, Beijing, who delivered a lecture at BCSR on 'The Chinese Economic Model and the Current Financial Crisis'.