Economy
Forum to promote Sino-Arabic investment, trade ties
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-26 14:00
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YINCHUAN - The 2010 China Investment and Trade Fair and the first China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum opened on Sunday in northwestern Yinchuan city, with aims to strengthen investment and trade ties between China and the Arabic states.
"The forum will certainly strengthen and deepen the traditional friendship and win-win cooperation between China and the Arabic states, as well as the Muslim regions, to realize mutual development," Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said at the opening ceremony of the five-day event at the capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
Wan Jifei, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said the forum was held "in the right place" because Ningxia has a large Muslim population, and the region has played a significant role in Sino-Arabic relationships over history.
Ningxia is home to at least 10 percent of China's 20 million Muslims. It has drawn up plans to expand trade and economic cooperation with the world's Muslim community.
"We hope the future cooperation between the two sides will not be limited to trade. We hope to strengthen cultural cooperation, based on better mutual understanding of society, education and people," said Nader Al Dahabi, former prime minister of Jordan.
The five-day forum and fair has attracted more than 6,000 government officials and businessmen from 66 countries, regions and international organizations, including Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu.