China, Arab nations strengthen ties with trade fair

Beijing, Aug 19 (Prensa Latina) China and Middle East nations on Thursday opened their fifth joint Expo, with the aim of expanding business opportunities and accelerating the bilateral trade in consumer goods and services, especially in a post-pandemic scenario. The event, mostly online, takes place in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, will last until Sunday, August 22, and brings together more than 1,000 domestic and Arab companies that show their leading offers in sectors such as food, technology, household appliances and personal care products, among others.

August 19, 2021
07:37

In addition to the Expo, the event will hold a summit in which academics, business leaders and government officials will discuss about collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, health, agriculture, carbon neutrality, new energies and investments.

President Xi Jinping welcomed the meeting and expressed his Government’s willingness to promote cooperation with the Arab States, especially in the context of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, inspired by ancient trade routes to create an infrastructure and trade exchange mega-project.

According to official figures, China has become the largest trading partner of Arab countries and bilateral trade exceeded 289 billion dollars in 2020.

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