From April 8 to 10, 2011, the Chinese Secretariat of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum organized 20 diplomatic envoys of Arab states to visit Hebei province. Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun and Chen Xiaodong, Chinese Secretary General of the Forum and Director-General of the Department of West Asian and North African Affairs accompanied the delegation.

Vice Governor of Hebei province Yang Chongyong and Executive Deputy Mayor of Baoding city Ma Yufeng met with the delegation in Shijiazhuang and Baoding respectively. Yang thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its long-term support for Hebei’s opening up and economic growth and introduced in details the economic, social, natural, historical and cultural development of the province. He noted that the Arab states and Hebei province enjoy a huge potential of cooperation. The two sides should complement with each other with relative advantages, deepen mutual understanding, explore business opportunities and expand mutually beneficial cooperation. Zhai stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will closely pursue the core task of serving domestic development by diplomacy and continue to sincerely serve local economic development. Mirghani, head of the Arab States Mission in China and Sudanese Ambassador to China said that Hebei province enjoys strong economic strength and especially advantages in the new energy, mechanics and iron and steel sectors. There is great potential of developing win-win cooperation with Arab states. He believes that the visit will help strengthen mutual understanding and lay down a solid foundation for the bilateral cooperation.

The diplomatic envoys of Arab states also visited Tianwei Yingli New Energy Resources Co., Ltd and Great Wall Motor Co. Group. Deeply impressed by Hebei’s economic and social development, they all indicated will of promoting the exchanges and cooperation between the two sides by taking tangible actions.