Beyond trade: A file photo of a cultural event at a past China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum in Yinchuan. The trade fair has been organised six times. — Xinhua
BEIJING: China is helping transform the Arab world in myriad ways, delivering socio-economic development on an unprecedented scale and promising shared prosperity for the future.
That was the takeaway consensus which emerged from the four-day biennial China-Arab States Expo held in late September in Yinchuan of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region in north-west China.
Thanks to their engagement with China, nations stretching from the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East to Mauritania on the western fringes of the vast Sahara Desert in North Africa are reaping (or set to reap) a slew of benefits.
These include sustainable agricultural solutions for arid regions; development of high-tech and biomedicine; higher-level collaborations among participants of the Belt and Road Initiative; better economic relations; trade in consumer and industrial products as well as energy commodities and services; digital transformation of industry and business; and innovative currency settlements, said Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Malki, assistant secretary-general of the League of Arab States.
What is more, Arab countries are learning from China’s efficient strategies for economic recovery and progress, he said.
A shining example of China-Arab states cooperation is the China-aided Mauritania Livestock Technology Demonstration Centre, a vibrant oasis amid the sprawling desert. The centre now boasts purple alfalfa and tall fescue that thrives across nearly 405 hectares.
“Mauritania’s livestock industry acts as a cornerstone of the country’s economy,” said Zhang Hong’en, the centre’s director.
“However, with 80% of its land dominated by desert known for its long dry spells, traditional grazing practices have wreaked havoc on the country’s fragile ecosystems, creating a vicious cycle.”
In pursuit of sustainable solutions, Chinese experts like Zhang have been heading to Mauritania since 2015 to introduce soil improvement techniques and implement innovative water-saving irrigation methods. Their sustained efforts have led to the introduction of a diverse array of 40 forage crop varieties, seeking the perfect match for this challenging environment.
The green revolution that ensued has breathed life into Mauritania’s livestock industry, promising a sustainable future and ensuring progress for agriculture, Zhang said.
The demonstration centre, a joint venture of China’s Commerce Ministry and Ningxia Hui, is only one of many such achievements of the expo.
Since the first expo in 2013, as many as 112 countries and regions, along with over 6,000 Chinese and foreign enterprises and around 400,000 traders, have participated in the event. More than 1,200 cooperation projects of various types have been signed, spanning a range of industries. This year’s expo saw exhibition venues cover 40,000 sq m, attracting 1,000 domestic and foreign businesses.
One of them, Palma, a Saudi Arabian dates firm and a first-timer at the expo, has set its sights on the vast Chinese market. It showcased its finest varieties of dates to attract consumers, especially the rising middle-income group, who are embracing healthier lifestyles and exploring diverse culinary experiences, said Abdullah Alrebdi, chairman of Palma.
China is now the Arab countries’ largest trading partner. Their trade has almost doubled from the 2012 level to US$431.4bil last year. In the first half of this year, trade between the two regions neared US$200bil, data from the Commerce Ministry showed. — China Daily/ANN
