China, GCC countries agree to accelerate FTA negotiations, enhance economic partnership under BRI
Photo: Screenshot from Wechat account of China's Ministry of Commerce
Wang met with GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, who came to attend the China-GCC economic and trade ministerial meeting in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong Province. The two sides discussed the implementation of economic and trade initiatives following the first China-GCC Summit, as well as the advancement of FTA negotiations.
Wang said that China and GCC countries have achieved a deeper strategic partnership, with trade exchanges reaching record highs, two-way investment growing rapidly and bilateral economic and trade cooperation starting to reap fruitful results. Chinese modernization will bring new opportunities for cooperation between the two sides, Wang noted.
China will actively implement the “eight major steps” China will take to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and is willing to work with the GCC to use the current ministerial meeting as an opportunity to accelerate implementation of the results of the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-GCC Summit in the field of economic and trade initiatives, and to promote stable and healthy development of economic and trade cooperation between China and the GCC.
AlBudaiwi said that the GCC is optimistic about China's development prospects and is willing to further strengthen economic and trade cooperation with China under the BRI framework to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results.
Wang also met with Qais Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of Oman, saying that China will dovetail with Oman Vision 2040 and work with Oman to expand path of cooperation in the fields of economic affairs and trade, innovating modes of cooperation and accelerating the negotiation of the China-GCC FTA.
Qais said that Oman and China are strategic partners, and bilateral economic and trade cooperation enjoys complementary advantages. Oman is willing to work with the China to implement the economic and trade initiatives in line with the first China-GCC Summit.
Mohammad Othman Alaiban, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Kuwait, said during the meeting that Kuwait is proud of the relationship between China, deeply satisfied with the good results achieved in bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and is willing to work with the Chinese side to implement the economic and trade initiatives of the first China-GCC Summit, and to further deepen the economic and trade cooperation under BRI.
Global Times