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SRCIC Delegation attending the China - Arab Business & Banking Forum
13 Nov 2018

 

On November 13, 2018, the China - Arab Business & Banking Forum was held in Beirut, Lebanon. The Forum is co-organized by Union of Arab Banks (UAB), Fransabank, and Asian Financial Cooperation Association (AFCA), aiming to promote pragmatic cooperation between China and Arab countries under the Belt and Road Initiative.

 

At the invitation of Adnan Kassar, Chairman of Fransabank and Wissam Fattouh, Secretary General of UAB, SRCIC Delegation led by its Vice Chairman and Secretary General Li Zhonghang attended the Forum.

 

Left: H.E Saad Hariri, Prime Minster of Lebanon (R) and Secretary General Li Zhonghang

Right: H.E Saad Hariri meets SRCIC Delegation and other participants

 

During the meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Li Zhonghang expressed his sincere gratitude to H.E. Saad Hariri for sending the congratulatory letter of 2018 Silk Road Business Summit. He also made introduction of SRCIC and the latest progress of Adnan & Adel Kassar Silk Road Cultural Center. The Center located at Xi’an Tang West Market will be unveiled in March 2019 to advocate Chairman Kassar's outstanding contribution to Chinese-Arab friendship and cooperation.

 

Adnan Kassar, SRCIC Honorary Chairman and Fransabank Chairman, delivering the speech

 

Adnan Kassar, Honorary Chairman of SRCIC and Chairman of Fransabank said that the forum is the first financial activity between China and Arab countries and also the best presentation of countries' friendly relations. “As the Honorary Chairman of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for the Arab Countries, and an old friend of Chinese people. I would like to continually make contribution to promoting bilateral cooperation and development between China and Arab.” Adnan Kassar added.

 

SRCIC Secretary General Li Zhonghang delivering the speech

 

Mr. Li, on behalf of SRCIC Chairman Lu Jianzhong, congratulated the Forum a complete success and expressed that SRCIC would build a platform to promote pragmatic cooperation between the Chinese and Arab business. He also advocated Chinese and Arab business communities shall work together to safeguard the multilateral trading system, promote the development of regional economies in a more open, inclusive, beneficiary, balanced and win-win direction. “In today’s world, economic and social development of all countries is increasingly linked and economic globalization is an irreversible historical trend.” he said.

 

SRCIC Secretary General Li Zhonghang on behalf of SRCIC Chariman Lu

receiving an honor award from UAB

 

During the forum, Li Zhonghang, on behalf of SRCIC Chariman Lu Jianzhong, received an honor award from UAB.

 

UAB Chairman Sheikh Mohamed El -Jarrah El- Sabbah delivering the speech

 

Addressing the forum, UAB Chairman Sheikh Mohamed El -Jarrah El- Sabbah who just participated in the 2018 Silk Road Business summit indicated that Arab and China had achieved enormous progress in trade, investment, financial and other areas over the years. He hoped that both sides shall continue to enhance cooperation and promote the Belt and Road construction.

 

H.E.Ambassador Wang Kejian delivering keynote speech

 

Chinese ambassador to Lebanon H.E. Ambassador Wang Kejian was invited to the forum. He reviewed the achievements between China and Lebanon under the Belt and Road construction, and introduced three major documents released from the 8th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF). He suggested China and Lebanon shall improve the legal framework for economic and trade cooperation, discuss specific cooperation projects, and strengthen cooperation between enterprises of both sides.

 

SRCIC Financial Committee Chairman David Kiang addressing the forum

 

SRCIC Financial Committee Chairman David Kiang delivered the speech at the parallel forum under the topic of Establishment of Chinses-Arab Funds Cooperation Schemes to support BRI, which won warm applause from the participants.

 

Secretary General Li Zhonghang (L) meets H.E.Ambassador Wang Kejian

 

During the visit, Secretary General Li Zhonghang held talks with H.E. Ambassador Wang Kejian and introduced SRCIC’s achievement over the past year. Li zhonghang expressed his hope that SRCIC could work together with business communities in Arab countries to promote pragmatic cooperation between two sides under the Belt and Road Initiative and make contribution to the prosperity and stability of the Arab region.

 

Secretary General Li Zhonghang and SRCIC delegation meets Adnan Kassar

 

On 12 November, Li Zhonghang and SRCIC delegation held meeting with Fransabank Chairman Adnan Kassar at the headoffice of Fransabank. Mr. Li conveyed Chairman Lu Jianzhong' s greetings to Chairman Kassar and shared the 2018 Silk Road Business Summit achievement and the construction progress of Adnan & Adel Kassar Silk Road Cultural Center. Mr. Li showed partial items to be displayed in the cultural center including prizes, certificates and photos of Chairman Kassar and discussed with Chairman Kassar the exhibition ways.

 

Secretary General Li Zhonghang meets Kassem Tofailli, President of Arab Chinese Cooperation & Development Association

 

On 13 November, Li Zhonghang had meeting with Kassem Tofailli, President of Arab Chinese Cooperation & Development Association, and discussed the promotion of traditional Chinese medicine, international students program, art and music, and other areas between China and Lebanon.

 

One and a half days of official activities are tight and rich. Through the wonderful presentation of SRCIC at forum and meetings with political dignitaries, the SRCIC's influence in the Arab region has been further enhanced, and the implementation of practical cooperation projects has also been promoted.

 

Sources: Partly from Xinhua news agency and website of the Chinese embassy in Lebanon