BEIJING, July 17 -- China-Arab States Expo has launched an advisory committee to solicit professional advice on China-Arab cooperation as well as the convening of the expo slated for Sept. 12-Oct. 15 in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Inaugurated on June 8, the committee includes 21 Chinese and foreign senior diplomats, experts, scholars, heads of major commerce chambers and associations, and enterprises.

Three representatives of the committee, namely Ghanim al-Shibli, head of the Arab League (AL) mission in China, Wu Sike, senior diplomat and formerly China’s special envoy to the Middle East, and Yang Zhanwu, president of Ningxia Federation of Social Science Circles, attended the inaugural conference and shared their views on economic and trade cooperation between China and the Arab states, integration of Ningxia into the “Belt and Road” Initiative, and pragmatic cooperation under the framework of China-Arab States Expo.

The newly-funded advisory committee’s main responsibilities are providing guidance internally while seeking external cooperation, conducting theoretical researches, and advancing the implementation of related projects.

The committee will hold regular or random work conferences to discuss important issues at the preparatory stage of the expo. The committee will also be invited to attend thematic lectures and seminars and contribute their insights into the construction of Ningxia Inland Opening-up Pilot Economic Zone and the implementation of the Silk Road Economic Belt strategy in the region.

The committee will make full use of research resources in the region and beyond and focus on several key projects annually, so as to provide decision-making consultations on the long-term development of the expo and Ningxia’s role in promoting China-Arab cooperation.

In addition, the committee will also head for the Arab states and Muslim regions to gain support from relevant governments, enterprises and non-governmental organizations and coordinate their participation in the upcoming China-Arab States Expo.