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China-Arab relations rebound

By Brendan John Worrell (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-05-21 17:54

Historically China-Arab relations were at the heart of advances in world culture, science and economics and in more recent times this mutuality has gathered increased momentum.

For western observers looking in there are lessons to be learned which if applied can help to rewind some of the fiscal grief that has been occurring as of late while also adding an extra dimension to security agendas.

Rather timely this week China Economist, Ben Simpfendorfer was doing the rounds of Beijing's press and literary circles plugging his book, The New Silk Road. Proficient in Chinese and Arabic and with over 15 years' experience in both regions, Simpfendorfer offered a pragmatic evaluation of trade events following September 11, 2001.

He noted that the passing of the Patriot Act inadvertently impeded Arab traders' business operations into the US. At the same time this was paralleled with China's access into the World Trade Organization in December 2001 and a mushrooming of links between Chinese and Arab traders.

Basically an 18:1 ratio in terms of the days it took Middle Eastern traders to wait for a visa to get into the US or China emerged. According to Simpfendorfer such, 'small threads combined to make a thicker rope' enabling the strengthening of ties.

Elsewhere China has been increasing its oil imports from the region boosting Middle Eastern economies and more recently lucrative Arab wealth funds are being lured to invest in China – as the US and European economies tank.

Placed alongside this the growth of the Islamic financial sector gives observers reason for cautious optimism in the region.

At a cultural level according to Simpfendorfer, where China allows itself to look at the best of the Middle East – the West often mistakenly "looks at the worst" and this is to its own detriment.

The Chinese government's encouragement towards its local Muslim population to study Arabic and to engage Middle Eastern clients also warrants praise. The bustling city of Yiwu where over a thousand Chinese Arabic translators are on hand to assist with trade is a case in point.

Comparatively he notes back in Europe and in the US interest in working abroad, particularly in the Middle East, is at an all time low.

As it stands the hard work here and in the Arab world has been paying off.

China is now the world's largest exporter to the Middle East, overtaking the United States earlier this year - the first time the Unites States has lost its number one ranking since the 1960s.

However, it must be mentioned China should not only focus on exporting to the Middle East. It should also try and invest in the region.

The Middle East's young, and often unemployed, population is a source of potential instability and ideally Chinese manufacturers can play a role to help to reduce such tension by building factories in countries such as Egypt and Syria to create jobs.

Social stability in the Middle East is in China's interest in so far as it will help to prevent oil prices from spiraling higher.

Recent events in Papua New Guinea, though located in the Pacific and not Islamic, still emphasize the point that careful engagement where trade is concerned, requires adroit engagement of local communities.

So far more recent China-Arab relations have avoided such pitfalls. Let's try to ensure it continues for many more years to come.