China-Arab States Collaboration: Growing economic cooperation boosts cultural exchanges

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02:45

Contacts between China and Arab states can be traced back more than 2,000 years. Today tens of thousands of Arab business people are trading in China. Many have achieved a lot, and some have even married Chinese and settled down. CGTN's Wu Lei talked with such a Jordanian businessman in Yiwu, in East China's Zhejiang Province.

Jordanian businessman Mohanad Shalabi came to trade in Yiwu since 2002. He said this city is like a goldmine, he could find almost every product his Arabic business partners want. After years of hard work, he now owns a trading company and a restaurant as well.

MOHANAD SHALABI JORDANIAN BUSINESSMAN "There are about 400 Jordanian businessmen here, and these traders are from 9 Arabic states. The total number of Arab businessmen is estimated to be 10 thousand."

Mohanad married a Chinese woman and settled down in Yiwu with his family. In 2014, at the opening ceremony of the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping mentioned Mohanad, saying that this was the best example of the Chinese Dream meeting the Arab Dream.

MOHANAD SHALABI JORDANIAN BUSINESSMAN "Yes, the number of Arab-Chinese marriages is increasing. They are also trying to settle down because we found China is very stable and safe. We found a very warm place for our business and family here."

WU LEI YIWU "As one of the world's largest small-goods markets, Yiwu is now home to the majority of Arabs in China. This growing number of Arabic restaurants has witnessed the flourishing trade between China and the Arab world."

Most of these authentic restaurants in Yiwu are run by Arabs. China has become the second largest trading partner for Arab countries. In 2017, the trade volume between China and Arab states reached 191 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of nearly 12%.

MOHANAD SHALABI JORDANIAN BUSINESSMAN "I hope I can be a bridge between Arab states and China. I will help Chinese people know more about Arab states, European and African states, and help Arabs know more about Chinese culture and markets."

As many Arab states are keen to work with China on the Belt and Road Initiative, Mohanad believes the growing economic cooperation between China and the Arab world will further boost cultural exchanges. Wu Lei, CGTN, Zhejiang Province.