Zhu Weilie, a Chinese researcher of Middle East issues, was awarded the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Prize yesterday for his contribution to the friendly relations between China and the Gulf States.

Abdulrahman Al Muftah, Qatar's ambassador to China, said Zhu has served as bridges for more than 40 years for the civilization dialogues and cultural exchanges between the two friendly peoples.

Zhu is head of the Middle East Issues Research Institute at Shanghai International Studies University.

Feng Zuoku, vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said the prize will encourage more Chinese people to do friendly exchanges between China and the Arab nations.

Feng, also vice president of the China-Arab Friendship Association (CAFA), said the CAFA will award prizes to five Chinese and five Arabians from next year for their contributions to China-Arab friendship.