Imagine leaders from China and 19 Arab countries gathering in Shanghai, a big city in the Chinese mainland 🇨🇳. They met at the 5th China-Arab States Reform and Development Forum to talk about how they can work together to make the world a better place!
They discussed something called the Global Development Initiative (GDI). This is like a big plan to help countries grow and develop together. They want to use new ideas and technology to make industries better and help everyone have a higher quality of life.
Zhai Jun, a special envoy (which is like an important representative) from China, said that China will keep working with Arab countries to bring more innovation and cooperation. It’s like when friends team up to build something amazing together!
Did you know that China is the biggest trading partner of Arab countries? In 2024, they traded goods worth about $400 billion! That’s a lot of trade, and it helps both sides grow and prosper 🌟.
Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China and Arab countries have started over 200 big projects in things like building roads, energy, and more. These projects have helped nearly 2 billion people! That’s like helping a lot of friends all over the world.
For example, in Egypt, there’s a place called the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone. It has created nearly 9,000 jobs directly and more than 80,000 jobs indirectly. That means many people have work and can support their families 😊.
In Algeria, China helped build an important highway that connects different parts of the country. In the United Arab Emirates, Chinese and Saudi companies are building a clean coal project in Dubai, which is the first in the Middle East!
There’s also a big project in Fujian Province in China called the Fujian Gulei Phase II Integrated Refining and Petrochemical Project. It’s a huge investment and will help provide materials for other companies, making products smarter and greener 🍃.
Khaled Mahdi from Kuwait said that the GDI is not just an idea, but a real chance to change how countries work together globally 🌍. He believes that to achieve global development, countries need to make the GDI work locally and find ways to support long-term growth.
It’s exciting to see how China and Arab countries are working hand in hand to create a brighter future for everyone! Maybe one day, you’ll be part of such amazing projects too!
Reference(s):
China, Arab states continue to promote global reform, development
cgtn.com
