BUILDING A TRADE BRIDGE: The opening ceremony of the first China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum in Yinchuan, capital city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on September 26, 2010, which drew numerous businesspeople, diplomats, government officials, experts and scholars from around the world (LI YUZHU)

The 2010 China Investment and Trade Fair and the first annual China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum kicked off in Yinchuan, capital city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China, on September 26.

The forum, from September 26 to 30, will include high-level forums, exhibitions and investment cooperation promotion.

The high-level forums are mainly dialogue platforms for government officials, business leaders and experts, where they can express the strategic thinking of their governments, wishes of entrepreneurs on development, and professional ideas of scholars and experts. The content of summit meetings, workshops and seminars and the theme and topic of the forums will depend on the development tide of the world economy and the economic cooperation between China and Arab countries.

Commodity exhibitions are based on a sideline meeting, the Chinese Hui Merchants Conference held on September 24. The aim is to promote trade between the two parties by providing Chinese and Arab purchasers, producers and investors with more business opportunities.

Investment cooperation promotion offers a dialogue platform for Chinese and Arab industry and commerce circles in terms of energy, finance, project contracting and other fields, so that both parties can benefit from investment.

The whole event, aimed at providing a bridge and bond to help the industry and commerce fields in China and Arab states better understand each other and thus expand cooperation, will serve as a new platform that promotes economic cooperation between China and Arab countries, a mechanism that furthers economic exchanges between the two sides, a forum that highlights mutual benefits and common development, and a component of China's opening-up policy. The event is open not only to China and Arab countries, but also to other countries and regions worldwide.

The 5,000-plus participants from home and abroad include government officials, diplomats, experts and businesspeople coming from over 60 countries and regions, as well as international organizations.

"The event is an important stage for furthering the mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship as well as for the promotion of convenient facilities for investment and trade between the two sides," said Li Rui, Vice President of Ningxia.

The event, approved by the State Council, was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the Ningxia Government.

It is slated to be held every year on a regular basis from this year on.