The first China-Arab State Expo, a themed forum to facilitate trade between China and Arabian countries, will be held in the city of Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, from Sept.15 to Sept.19, according to a press conference held in Beijing on July 17.

Themed “Enhancing China-Arab State Cooperation Toward the World”, the exposition includes a series of forums, exhibitions, promotion activities featuring agricultural, energy, financial, education and tourism cooperation between China and the Arab States. China-Arab State Agricultural Cooperation Forum, China-Arab State Energy Cooperation Forum, the World Muslim Tourism Entrepreneurs Conference, China-Arab State Cultural and Art Exhibition Week and the China-Arab State Financial Cooperation Forum will be held at the expo.

Kuwait will be invited as guest of honor to promote its pragmatic cooperation with China. China-Kuwait Investment Forum and a youth football match between the two countries will also be held.

Liu Hui, chairwoman of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, stated that the Hui people in Ningxia share many cultural similarities with Arabians. The exposition will be fully used to make the Ningxia Inland Opening-up Pilot Zone a pioneer when it came to opening up the west of China, she said.

Trade between China and Arab countries increased to US$222.4 billion in 2012, with a growth rate of 14 percent per year, according to Li Jinzao, the vice-minister of commerce. China's exports to Arab states totaled US$91.3 billion, while imports amounted to US$131.1 billion, he added. The major cooperation areas focus on energy, mechanical equipment and consumption goods.

The exposition originated from the China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum, which has been held annually since 2010.