SMEs forum promotes regional economic cooperation

Chinese, West Asian and North African officials and entrepreneurs gathered Wednesday in Changzhou of east China's Jiangsu Province to discuss ways to seize development opportunities among countries in the regions.

A total of 150 officials, diplomats and entrepreneurs from 19 countries are attending the Fourth Session of the China-West Asian and North African Countries Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Cooperation Forum.

Economic cooperation between China and West Asian and North African countries will benefit world peace and development and is in the interests of people in the regions, Li Haifeng, vice chairwoman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said when delivering a keynote speech.

She noted that China, West Asian and North African countries are complementary in economic structure and the forum will further expand cooperation and promote personnel exchanges among the region's countries.

Li Jinjun, deputy head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the forum provides a platform for leaders from different countries and political parties to share experiences, exchange ideas in developing SMEs and discuss ways to give full play of each other's advantages.

Jiangsu Province will encourage future cooperation in fields such as renewable energy, environmental protection, infrastructure and education with West Asian and North African countries, Fu Ziying, vice governor of the province, said at the forum.

Nafie Ali Nafie, Sudanese presidential assistant and vice chairman of the ruling National Congress Party, said that China has a lot of experience in developing an economy for Sudan to learn from and the forum will help Sudan better develop business of its SMEs.

This year's event is hosted by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Jiangsu provincial government.