Joint China, Arab ‘Silk Road’ Initiative Promotes Regional Prosperity

While addressing the sixth session of the Conference of Arab-Chinese Businessmen, Wang Zhengwei said that the proposed ‘Silk Road’ initiative will further enhance the China and Arab world’s economic ties.

The combined effort of China and the Arab world to implement the ‘Silk Road’ initiative may further enhance regional economic cooperation, promoting stability and prosperity in the area, a senior Chinese political adviser said on Tuesday.

Wang Zhengwei, vice chairman of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) said that China and the Arab world enjoy stable friendship, strong political ties, economic compatibility and growing trade networks.

Wang advised the two sides to step up their strategic energy cooperation, increase two-way trade and mutual investment and promote exchanges between the industrial and business communities of the two.

Lebanon's Prime Minister, Tammam Salam, attended the conference. He said his country is looking forward to participating in the economic course of the Silk Road initiative.

"China has become the largest trading partner for Lebanon, and we expect this partnership to extend owing to the new horizons of cooperation," added the prime minister, reports China’s media.

The ‘Silk Road’ initiative was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, and is aimed at reviving the ancient trade routes that extent to Asia, Africa and Europe.