Pak takes part in Int'l Investment, Trade Fair, Arab Economic Forum in North West China

YICHUAN: The opening ceremony of China (Ningxia) International Investment and Trade Fair and the Second China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum kicked off in the Muslim dominated Ningxia Hu Autonomous Region's capital, Yinchuan here on Wedneday.

The Chairman, CPPCC, Jia Qinglin was Chief Guest on the occasion.

Pakistan has also established a pavilion at the fair which displays country's cultural heritage, food products and handicraft items.

More than 76 countries and international organizations including 22 Arab countries are represented at the fair.

During his speech, President of Maurutania, Muhamnad Ould Abdel Aziz said that multilateral cooperation between China and Arab countries has grown from strength to strength with the passage of time.

He pointed out that China is the first choice for Arab investors.

The economies of China and Arab countries are highly complementary, he said adding that there is immense scope of sustainable mutual growth.

Later, in his keynote address at the Summit meeting of the second China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum, Jia Qinglin said that China and Arab countries have a time-honored history of friendship dating back to two thousand years when the ancient Silk Road integerated the two regions together.

He said the friendly relations between the two have been deepening and broadening in the last few decades making their relations a good example of South-South cooperation.

"China and Arab countries are good brothers, partners and friends", Jia Qinglin remarked.

He mentioned that Arab countries are the 7th largest trading partner of China. He said Chinese investment in Arab countries has exceeded US$ 15 billion while their investment in China is around US$ 2.6 billion.

Ambassadors and officials from various countries were present on the occasion.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011