China-Arab States Expo to boost trade
September 15, 2013, 7:31 pm

King Abdullah, left, will fly to Beijing on a three-day state visit [Xinhua]

Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, greeted the delegations from 20 Arab countries and 31 provinces and municipalities.

He also met foreign leaders who attended the opening ceremony, including King Abdullah II of Jordan, King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-khalifa of Bahrain and Vanuatu Prime Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosil.

King Abdullah II will fly to Beijing following the expo’s inauguration. This is the King’s eighth state visit to China.

Meanwhile, Kuwait is participating as guest of honour in the expo.

“The expo bridges the gap between the Kuwaiti and the Chinese cultures and it promotes bilateral ties in all economy-related domains, especially since China has one of the biggest economies of the world,” Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Saleh and head of his country’s delegation told reporters before leaving for China.

“It is a great investment opportunities for  both countries.”

Trade between China and Kuwait has significantly grown in recent years with reaching $12.5 billion in 2012.

According to the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, Kuwait has invested $887 million in road, airport, port and railway construction projects in addition to environment, education and hospital investments in China during the past 30 years.

“Kuwait is willing to participate in trade activities like the exposition, which could develop relationships with each country, and grasp this opportunity to know the latest achievements that each participating country has made through economic reforms,” he said.

The Sultanate of Oman was represented by Ahmed bin Hassan al Dheeb, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for Commerce and Industry, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE).

Oman’s delegation included representatives development and investment agencies looking to exchange expertise with Chinese experts in industry, trade and the services market.

Yu called on Oman and other Arab nations to further consolidate mutual political trust and deepen economic and trade cooperation. He also called for more active mutual exchanges in culture and human resources.

The expo, which includes conferences, forums, workshops and specialised commercial exhibitions of more than 7,300 domestic and overseas officials, exhibitors, purchasers and investors, will run until September 19.

Source: Agencies