Lebanese companies see opportunity in China-Arab States Expo

BEIRUT, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese entrepreneurs are actively taking part in the ongoing fifth China-Arab States Expo, hoping to promote their products and expand their exports to China.

Rose Bechara Perini, founder of Darmmess, an olive oil maker in Lebanon, told Xinhua that she seeks to enter China's market given the high appreciation by the Chinese people for natural products.

"China has a market whereby a premium product can find its place because of the great purchasing power in the country," Perini said.

While Elie Maamari, enologist and export director at Chateau Ksara, Lebanon's oldest wine producer, told Xinhua this is his second participation in the expo, hoping to find importers and distributors for his products in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region where the event is taking place.

"I am sure we can expand further our exports in the country as the Chinese people appreciate Lebanon's wine because it has different spices that go well with their types of food," Maamari explained, saying that China is one of the most important markets for his products.

Khan El Saboun, a 600-year-old Lebanese family business trading in organic soaps, is participating its third consecutive participation in the expo, hoping to boost its reputation in China and get in contact with the different importers who will be taking part from different countries in the expo.

"China is an excellent market for us and one of the most important markets in the world. We place high hopes and efforts on this market as people in China favor our niche handmade organic items and they appreciate history," Amir Hassoun, owner of the company, told Xinhua.

The fifth China-Arab States Expo, which is taking place in China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, will further strengthen cooperation between Arab and Chinese enterprises and non-governmental exchanges in a pragmatic and innovative form, inject development impetus into the two sides, and bring tangible common interests, said Nasser Bouchiba, president of the Africa-China Cooperation Association for Development in Morocco.

The expo "will undoubtedly set an example for global economic and trade cooperation and bring confidence to the revitalization of the world economy," Bouchiba added.

Secretary-general of Egyptian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Diaa Helmy said that Arab countries will seize the opportunity brought by the expo to deepen positive cooperation with China at all levels, not only in goods and trade but also digital technology and new energy.

Over 5,000 enterprises from over 110 countries and regions attended the previous four editions of the expo, with a total of 936 cooperation projects signed.