(Yicai Global) July 9 -- The Arab states are willing to boost cooperation with China under the Belt and Road Initiative, state-backed Xinhua News Agency reported the Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, as saying. 

Aboul-Gheit and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday, prior to the eighth ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, scheduled for tomorrow. 

China hopes its rapid development will provide opportunities to the Arab states in their bid to achieve economic diversification and industrialization development, Wang said after Sunday's meeting.

China's President Xi Jinping will attend the CASCF in Beijing and hold his third speech to the Arab representative body. Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and 22 representatives from the Middle Eastern and North African countries will also attend the meeting. The Chinese participants are expected to suggest specific plans regarding how to advance the Belt and Road cooperation.

China's trade with the Arab world increased 12 percent last year, reaching nearly USD200 billion, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Song Aiguo said at a congressional meeting in March. The worth of Chinese investments in these 22 countries grew 9 percent, reaching USD1.3 billion.

The CASCF, founded 14 years ago and held every two years, facilitates China's cooperation and communication with the Arab states. 

Editor: Emmi Laine