China-Arab forum to boost trade ties

The second China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum opened Wednesday, with the aim of further strengthening economic and trade ties between China and Arabic states. China''s top political advisor Jia Qinglin, who chairs the National Committee of the Chinese People''s Political Consultative Conference, opened the forum in Yinchuan, capital city of northwest Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which is home to more than 10 percent of China''s 20 million Muslims, according to China''s (Xinhua) News Agency. The five-day forum will focus on economic and trade cooperation in agriculture, science and technology, energy, finance, tourism and the publishing sector. A trade fair in which vendors display halal food, Muslim commodities and energy and chemical engineering products is being held along side the forum, now in its second year since it started in 2010. More than 7,000 delegates, including 1,200 from 76 other countries and regions, are attending this year''s forum and trade fair, according to the event''s organizing committee. China is willing to boost cooperation with Arab countries in various fields for the benefit of the citizens represented by both sides, Jia said during a meeting with ministerial officials from Arab countries late Tuesday.