The National News Agency in Lebanon published the entire news article on its official website, and it was covered in the local press. https://tinyurl.com/ypfkeuf6
Kassem Tofailli, Chairman of the “Arab Chinese Cooperation and Development Association,” returned from his visit to China after leading a delegation of economic, cultural, and media organizations from 15 countries, including Japan, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Pakistan, France, the Congo, Iran, Tanzania, and Malaysia. The delegation also included representatives from Egypt, Palestine, Yemen, and Lebanon.
The China Economic Cooperation Center (CECC), affiliated with the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, organized this visit to the Xinjiang region with the aim of enhancing the delegation’s understanding of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region and its Uyghur population, as well as promoting economic and trade exchanges and cooperation.
The delegation visited the cities of Urumqi and Kashgar, where they participated in the opening ceremony of the Asian-European Trade and Commodity Exhibition (China 2023). Tofailli and the accompanying delegation met with several government officials and toured various economic and tourist facilities. The visit began with an extensive meeting with an expanded delegation of Communist Party and local government officials, including the Political Bureau member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Secretary of CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regional Committee, Mr. Ma Xingrui, in Urumqi.
On behalf of the Party Committee and the government of the autonomous region, Mr. Ma Xingrui welcomed the delegation to Xinjiang and invited them to explore all corners of the province and participate in the Asian-European Trade and Commodity Exhibition for 2023 (China). Ma Xingrui delivered a speech in which he stated: “Under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China, Xinjiang has fully and accurately implemented the Party’s strategy in governing Xinjiang in the new era, adhered to governing Xinjiang in accordance with the law, unified and stabilized Xinjiang, enriched its culture, enriched the people, rejuvenated Xinjiang, and built it for the long term, maintaining social stability and peace, promoting economic prosperity and development, encouraging people of all ethnic groups to live and work in peace and contentment, achieving new accomplishments in reform, development, and stability, and elevating the construction of a beautiful Xinjiang to a new level.”
Ma Xingrui also pointed out that for some time, anti-China forces in the United States and other Western countries have been spreading lies and misconceptions about Xinjiang in a futile attempt to conspire to “use Xinjiang to control China.” Therefore, through this visit, representatives of industrial and commercial circles will undoubtedly have a deeper understanding of the real situation in Xinjiang and can quickly discern what is true and what is false. He continued, “Since ancient times, Xinjiang has been a racially and religiously diverse region, with a unique location, abundant resources, and diverse cultures. We actively integrate into the ‘Belt and Road’ project, accelerate the construction of the core area of the Silk Road economic belt, vigorously promote the development in Xinjiang, and seize the unprecedented development opportunities, providing a broad space for businessmen to deepen exchanges and cooperation. We warmly welcome everyone to visit Xinjiang, invest and develop businesses, and at the same time actively play an active role in promoting the expansion of exchanges and deepening cooperation between their countries and Xinjiang in various fields.” Ma Xingrui emphasized that Xinjiang is an open Xinjiang, and we have full confidence in the opening process. He hoped that “everyone will often come and take a look, show the real, beautiful, and prosperous Xinjiang to more people.”
In turn, Mr. Kassem Tofailli, head of the delegation and chairman of the Arab Chinese Cooperation and Development Association, said: “China’s successful experience in Xinjiang, which adheres to a development-oriented ideology centered on the people, promotes shared development and progress for all ethnic groups, and makes every effort to alleviate poverty, is worthy of learning from. It will play an active role in enhancing relations between Arab countries and Xinjiang, expanding investment in projects, and deepening cooperation in agriculture, new energy, mining, and other industries.” Then, Mr. Kassem was followed by Mr. Ma Pei, Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dr. Ahmed Said, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Cultural Wisdom Group, Sergey, Deputy Chairman of Unity Bank Russia, Samo, recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, and Kaibao, Director of Public Relations for the Malaysian Belt and Road Committee, who all emphasized that what they saw and heard in Xinjiang was completely different from what Western countries had portrayed. They promised to present the actual situation in Xinjiang to more people to promote active exchanges and cooperation with Xinjiang. They also shared their opinions and proposals for enhancing cooperation in agriculture, trade, banking, tourism, and other areas with Xinjiang, promoting cultural exchanges, and narrating Xinjiang’s story in China, wishing full success for the Asian-European Trade and Commodity Exhibition for 2023.
The meeting was attended by Ilzat Ahmatjan, Wang Gang, and Liu Huijun, as well as members of foreign industrial and commercial delegations, and relevant comrades in the International Communication Administration of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, headed by Yang Song, and officials of the relevant administrations in the autonomous region.”
During this trip, the president of the association visited Guangdong province, specifically in Foshan New City Cross-Border E-Commerce District. Ideas were exchanged regarding the opening of cross-border e-commerce platforms for Arab goods to enter the Chinese market, and preparations will be made to sign a special protocol for this matter in the near future.
