From 15th to 21st December, 2024, Xu Xiaoping, the Party Secretary and Director of the Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, led an economic and trade delegation to visit Algeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The delegation visited government departments and business associations of the two countries, and held promotion and invitation affairs for the 7th China-Arab States Expo. They also held an in-depth discussion on key projects such as the China-Algeria Joint Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, carried out research on the sales of Ningxia cool-weather vegetables and other advantageous characteristics of agricultural products in the UAE market. Such efforts further promoted the economic and trade cooperation between Ningxia and Arab countries. The delegation also called on embassies in the two countries and listened to relevant guidance. Approved by the Party Committee and the Government of the Autonomous Region, the visit aimed to further enhance the open platform of the Expo, consolidate the basis for the preparation and organization of the 7th Expo, and continue to deepen economic and trade co-operation with Arab countries. The delegation consisted of responsible comrades from the Foreign Affairs Office of the Party Committee of the Autonomous Region, relevant departments of the Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Commerce as well as some foreign economic and trade enterprises.

(Photo/the Office of the Secretariat of the China-Arab States Expo)

During the visit to Algeria, the delegation visited Algeria's National Agency for the Promotion of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and other government departments, as well as the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Association of Chinese Commerce in Algeria and other important business associations. The delegation widely promoted Ningxia's economic and social development, policy of opening up, characteristics of the key industries and the Expo. In particular, they introduced the framework design and activity arrangements for the 7th Expo, and pragmatically promoted the friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between Ningxia and Algeria in the fields of high and new technology, modern agriculture, clean energy, petrochemicals and so on. Both sides discussed key projects such as the China-Algeria Joint Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, and reached a consensus on cooperation. The two sides promised to further refine the measures and path of cooperation, and strived to form the results of cooperation as soon as possible. In addition, the delegation visited the Chinese embassy in Algeria. They jointly held the themed party day activity. Zhang Liwei, member of the delegation, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Party Committee of the Autonomous Region, delivered a lecture on behalf of the delegation of Ningxia. He introduced the Sino-Algerian, Ningxia-Algerian friendly relations, and promoted the advantages of industrial development in Ningxia and the Expo. Through such visits, the delegation explored the potential of economic and trade cooperation between Ningxia and Algeria, discussed practical cooperation in the field of economy and trade, and effectively promoted the preparatory work for the 7th Expo.

(Photo/the Office of the Secretariat of the China-Arab States Expo)

During the visit, the delegation held the 7th Expo Promotion Conference, which was attended by more than 50 persons in charge of Algerian business associations and enterprises, including the President of China-Algeria Friendship Association, Smail Debeche. The delegation introduced the guests the Expo and sincerely invited them to participate in the 7th Expo. Smail Debeche as well as some representatives of enterprises made speeches. The Algerian business community showed high interest in the 7th Expo, and expressed that they would participate in the 7th Expo to find business opportunities, so as to expand cooperation and seek development. Algerian News Agency, The Independent and other media reported on the promotion.

(Photo/the Office of the Secretariat of the China-Arab States Expo)

During the visit to the UAE, the delegation visited the Ministry of Economy of the UAE, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other departments to promote the 7th Expo. They invited guests, promoted practical cooperation in the financial field, put forward the construction of international trade single window, and continuously broadened the channels of Ningxia-UAE economic and trade cooperation. The delegation visited Wenchao Group of the UAE to investigate the export of cool-weather vegetables from Ningxia to the UAE, and helped some foreign trade enterprises to expand the channels and resources for exporting such vegetables from Ningxia to the Arab markets. In addition, the delegation called on the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of China in the UAE, requested the Office to help promote the invitation of relevant government departments and chambers of commerce to participate in the activities related to the 7th Expo, and listened to the guidance on the promotion of two-way economic and trade investment between Ningxia and the UAE.

(Photo/the Office of the Secretariat of the China-Arab States Expo)

While promoting the 7th Expo, the delegation actively promoted Ningxia's economic and social development achievements and advantages in the development of characteristic industries, built a platform for Ningxia's foreign trade enterprises to negotiate with the Arab businesses, and pushed forward the exportation of Ningxia's cool-weather vegetables and other advantageous characteristics of the products to the Arab market. Such efforts contributed to implementing the China-Arab practical cooperation featuring "eight actions" and "five patterns of cooperation", enhancing the open platform of the Expo, opening up more space for economic and trade cooperation, and strongly promoting the China-Arab co-construction of "One Belt, One Road" for deeper and more practical fruits.