EXPO a window to expand trade with arab world

The Arab world comprises 22 countries and territories of the Arab League and holds a combined population of about 422 million people.

Zhang Liwei, deputy head of the Ningxia Expo Bureau, the administrative body of the expo, said the event will help boost the profile of Ningxia as a gateway from China to the Arab world and transform the local economy from being resource-based to service-oriented.

Ningxia, heavily dependent on coal production, has been hit by a slump in coal prices amid the country's economic slowdown and shrinking industrial demand. The trend has forced local authorities to seek new growth engines.

"The service sector will be a focus of Ningxia's future development," Zhang said.

"Given its geographic location in Northwest China, Ningxia will be a strategically important place along the Silk Road and has the ambitious plan to develop into a center for services such as logistics, cross-border trade settlements and e-commerce."

Meanwhile, major industrial parks are being constructed in Ningxia with initial investment exceeding 20 billion yuan, said Zhang.