Chongqing- In the first ten months of 2022, the import and export between Chongqing and the League of Arab States (LAS) reached 18.6 billion yuan (about 2.67 billion U.S. dollars), with a year-on-year increase of 49.8%, according to the Chongqing Customs District.
As an important economic center in Southwest China, Chongqing Municipality has boosted foreign trade with other countries in recent years, from Europe and the United States to countries along the Belt and Road.
Chongqing's imports and export to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were 7.4 billion yuan and 6.05 billion yuan, up 52.9% and 80.2%, respectively, accounting for 72.4% of the total import and export value between Chongqing and LAS.
Automobiles, laptops, and mobile phones were exported 5.98 billion yuan, 3.93 billion yuan, and 1.64 billion yuan, with an increase of 60.7%, 68.3%, and 86%, respectively, accounting for 63.4% of Chongqing's total export to LAS during the same period.
Statistics of the foreign trade between Chongqing and the League of Arab States (LAS). (iChongqing/ Chen Zhan)
On December 7, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, to attend the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, and pay a state visit to Saudi Arabia, according to Xinhua.
A day after, both China and Saudi Arabia's leaders agreed to jointly advance the China-Saudi Arabia comprehensive strategic partnership and achieve even greater progress.
Xi said China would expand cooperation with Saudi Arabia in many areas, including the digital economy and clean energy. Chinese language education will also be advanced as China has designed Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination for Chinese group visitors to expand mutual visits and people-to-people exchange between the two sides.
It is widely believed that Xi's trip will further boost China's cooperation with the Arab world, promote peace and prosperity in the region, and chart a path to jointly building a China-Arab community with a shared future for the new era.
Belt and Road cooperation between China and Arab countries
Earlier this month, China signed a free trade agreement memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Palestine. China has recently signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with 21 Arab countries and the League of Arab States.
Belt and Road cooperation between China and Arab countries. (iChongqing/ Chen Zhan)
Established in Cairo on March 22, 1945, the LAS is an intergovernmental pan-Arab organization of all Arab states in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Currently, it gathers 22 Arab countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria (suspended), Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Statistics of the foreign trade between Chongqing and the League of Arab States (LAS). (iChongqing/ Chen Zhan)
Located at the intersection of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Arab countries have been historically an essential part of the Silk Road civilization and are natural partners for Belt and Road cooperation, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning.
The Belt and Road cooperation between China and Arab countries has become better structured and increasingly fruitful, with over 200 large-scale projects conducted in infrastructure, energy, and other areas, benefiting close to 2 billion people on both sides.
For example, the World Cup debut of Qatar's Lusail Stadium was contracted and built by Chinese companies, the direct freight shipping between China and Sudan was launched, and Egypt's first electrified light rail was opened for trial operation.