YINCHUAN -- As an important source of Arabic-speaking talents and a national site in charge of Muslim Food Certification, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region has played a vital role in the exchange between China and the Arab world.
Also, as the permanent host of the China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum, Ningxia will further promote trade between the two sides.
Delegations from China's 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions have promised to attend the coming forum, according to the region's Investment Attraction Bureau. And major enterprises like PetroChina, Sinopec and Shenhua Group will exhibit their products during the forum.
Moreover, enterprises from nearly 40 countries and regions such as Saudi Arab, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Italy and the United States have also signed up with the event.
Ningxia has already begun the prophase cooperation with enterprises from Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Saudi Arab by pursuing an investment attraction strategy, said Wang Jing, director of the bureau.
"We will further enhance the bilateral interactivities at this year's forum for enhanced cooperation," he added.
The forum's talents exchange platform established by Ningxia has become China's biggest supplier of Arabic-speaking talents.
Currently, China's Arabic-speaking talents engaging in trade with the Muslim countries hail mostly from Ningxia, who are very popular in the southeast coast areas.
Ningxia has devoted to the training of Arabic-speaking volunteers to help out traveller-traders in need. Some of the volunteers with high proficiency also in English will serve as receptionists, interpreters and guides during the forum to ensure its success.
During the 11th five-year period, Ningxia invested heavily on the Muslim food industry. Enterprise clusters of Muslim meats, dairy products and fast food, were formed. Commercial logistics and Muslim restaurants were established. More than 50 kinds of Muslim foods, boasting originality, green, quality and safety have found markets in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjinand Hong Kong.
Apart from this, Ningxia has developed industries of international popularity. Their products have a good sale in more than 30 countries and regions, including Southeast Asia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait. Distribution centers operate in Thailand, Malaysiaand the United Arab Emirates.
At the beginning of 2009, Ningxia issued and implemented a region-wise "General Rules Governing Muslim Food Certification". The rules regulate the whole process of producing, processing and selling Muslim foods to ensure that their purity and safety are in accord with the internationally accepted control conception.
The second China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum will be held in Yinchuan, the capital city of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Regionfrom Sept. 21 to 25.