China-Arab States Expo 2017 opens in Ningxia

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Officials and business persons from more than 60 countries have gathered in the city of Yinchuan in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region for the third biennial China-Arab States Expo.

The four-day session aims to strengthen economic and trade ties between China and Arab countries, as well as countries along the Belt and Road.

“The China-Arab States Expo helps to facilitate bilateral trade and investment relations, as well as people-to-people exchanges,” says Zhang Ping, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

A high-speed train model on display at the expo /CGTN Photo

China is currently the Arab states’ 2nd largest trading partner, and the biggest importer of crude oil. However, bilateral trade and investment have slowed down in recent years, due to price decline of bulk commodities.

The expo provides an opportunity for both sides to restructure their model of collaboration and forge closer trade ties.

Juma Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Affairs, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economy, at the expo. / CGTN Photo

Juma Al Kait Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Affairs, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economy, who has been attending the expo since 2013 said, they are keen to cooperate with China on a wide range of areas including tourism, halal meat, financial services and smart cities, etc.

Shahat Elmorshdy, a researcher from Field Corps Research Institute, told CGTN that he wants to create a Chinese technology center in Cairo to transfer China’s successful agricultural technology to Egypt and then to other Arabic countries.

More than 300 deals were signed with participating countries in the two previous expos. More deals are expected to be signed during this year's event.