Kuwaiti experts hail BRI for deepening China-Arab cooperation

As the fourth China-Arab States Expo opened Thursday in China, Kuwaiti experts hailed the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for deepening China-Arab cooperation that brings about mutual benefits.

The expo, held in Yinchuan, capital city of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, focuses on promoting economic, trade, science and technology cooperation between China and Arab states.

"The Chinese and Arab nations were connected by the ancient Silk Road on land and sea for centuries. Peace, cooperation, tolerance, business, and more values still exist between the two sides," Hajjaj Bukhudoor, a Kuwaiti economist, told Xinhua in an interview.

He believed that the long history of China-Arab cooperation and the roots of their deep friendship and civilizational exchanges have paved the way for boosting future China-Arab cooperation and will turn Arab countries into China's perfect partners.

Bukhudoor pointed out that Arab world is aware that China is the future, as China currently is the second largest world economy.

He noted that, during the eighth ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum held in July 2018 in Beijing, the two sides agreed to establish "a future-oriented strategic partnership of comprehensive cooperation and common development."

Bukhudoor added that the BRI will revive the ancient Silk Road that used to link China and Arab world together in the past.

Maytham Al-Shakhs, director general of Athra Real Estate Company of Kuwait, said that there are studies indicating that the best model of development for the Arab world is enhancing cooperation with China.

Chinese economic policies and Arab states' capabilities and geographical location provide the best formula for their cooperation in various fields, including energy, nanotechnology, communication, banking and logistics services, he explained.

Al-Shakhs said that many countries are eager to become an active participant in the BRI which they believe will bring about great economic benefits as a new resource for financial flow to their budgets.

Arab countries that are located along the Belt and Road routes are working hard to forge partnership with China to get a share of those benefits, he said.

Jassim Al-Sadoun, president of Alshall Investment Holding Group Company, said that China's economic success is due to its adherence to its long-term strategy, which has made it "a great and successful example in the economic field."

"China is a role model, and Arabs can benefit from this miraculous experience, which should be studied for the mutual benefits for China and the Arab world," Al-Sadoun told Xinhua.

"The BRI is a great global development strategy, their experience will help us increase market value of the goods and services," he said.

"The Arab world has the largest percentage of youth, we have to create more jobs. Also, we must consider economic interests and direct all resources to the sustainability of the economic development," Al-Sadoun said.

"The China-Arab States Expo is part of the grand plan and a way (for the Arabs) to learn China's strategy," he added.