Former Xinjiang governor conferred GCC award for friendship with gulf countries

A former governor of China's northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was conferred on Wednesday evening an award by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Beijing.

Tomur Dawamat, 84, was given the award by the committee of the GCC members' diplomats to China for his outstanding contribution to the friendly relationship between China and countries in the Persian Gulf area.

Omar Al Bitar, rotating chairman of the GCC diplomats committee and the United Arab Emirates' ambassador to China, said at the awarding ceremony that Tomur Dawamat is "a loyal friend of the Arabs", "supporter of Arabic cause" and "enthusiast of Arabic civilization".

Dawamat, a Uygur nationality, served as chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region government from 1985 to 1993, and vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee from 1993 to 2003.

Dawamat is chairman of China-Arab Friendship Association, which was founded in 2001.

The UAE ambassador said Dawamat and his association had made unremitting endeavor and outstanding achievement in enhancing economic, cultural and scientific cooperation with gulf countries. ( The GCC members include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Oman and Bahrain.

Source: Xinhua

	Weekly review