Chinese, Yemeni Officials Vow to Boost Trade and CooperationChinese and Yemeni officials agreed that the two countries will take every possible means to expand their bilateral trade and economic cooperation.Chinese Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) Shi Guangsheng said Monday at the fifth session of the China-Yemen Mixed Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation, that China pays special attention to the cooperation with Yemen. China wishes to increase the two-way direct trade, export more Chinese commodities to Yemen while importing more oil from Yemen, Shi said, hoping to increase their bilateral cooperation especially in the area of oil. The Chinese minister noted that China and Yemen, as two friendly developing countries, have supported each other in international affairs and economic cooperation. Bilateral trade volume between China and Yemen increased rapidly over the past several years. The two-way trade grew from 670 million U.S. dollars in 1996 to 900 million U.S. dollars last year. It reached 380 million U.S. dollars in the first six months this year, down a little bit from the same period last year. Yemeni Minister of Communications Abdul-Malek Al-Moalimi said there are great potentials to be explored in the economic cooperation and trade between the two countries. He also called for joint efforts to raise the cooperation a higher level. He congratulated China on its successful bid to hold the 2008 Olympiad in Beijing and the country's upcoming entry into the World Trade Organization. He also thanked China for its long-term assistance. The two ministers are expected to sign a summary of meeting later Monday to cement further a cooperation program between the two countries. |
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