The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mohammed al-Ashwal, discussed on Friday with the Vice Chairman of the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Yu Jian Long, ways to enhance cooperation and trade relations between the two friendly countries.
Minister al-Ashwal praised the depth of the historical trade relations between the two friendly countries, which have remained based on trade exchange and have developed through strategic and qualitative steps, as manifested in the signing of the Republic of Yemen and the People’s Republic of China on the Belt and Road Initiative in 2019, which represents an international approach based on mutual interest between the two countries, looking forward to benefiting from the Chinese experience in various fields.
Al-Ashwal extended an invitation for the serious return of Chinese institutions and companies to Yemen to complete the commercial and construction activities that were suspended due to the Houthi militia coup.
The pointed out that the return of Chinese companies will contribute to the sustainability of economic peace and overcoming humanitarian difficulties.
He emphasized that Yemen is awaiting many infrastructure projects in which the hopes are pinned on the People’s Republic of China in providing support with its expertise and the bilateral relations that bind the two countries.
He pointed out to the distinguished position of Yemen that makes it the cornerstone of the “Belt and Road” initiative and the partnership between the Yemeni and Chinese governments in many fields, whether in energy, electricity, or the development of Yemeni ports which are an important station on the maritime Silk Road, as well as oil exploration and exports and many other fields, and the participation of the Chinese government in the reconstruction of the infrastructure destroyed by the war.
Minister al-Ashwal also stressed that the level of decline in trade exchange between the two countries during the past period is due to the ongoing war and the coup of the militias on the resources of the state, the change in supply lines, and the difficulty of importing that requires inspection in foreign ports and then entering Yemen, some of which are exposed to damage due to the long distance and poor storage in some cases. He pointed out to the bombing of oil facilities by the terrorist Houthi militias and its impact on the Yemeni economy.
For his part, Yu renewed his invitation for the Yemeni government to actively participate in the upcoming China International Economic and Trade Fair to be held in the Chinese capital Beijing.
Source: https://www.sabanew.net/story/en/113344
