China's plans to set up a free trade zone for Arab countries in the province of Ningxia will be discussed at a five-day trade show starting today.

The China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum will also look at issues relating to expanding China's Halal food industry, trading in the yuan and joint financing of major construction projects in the Middle East region including in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya.

The event, which is being attended by national companies from the UAE such as Adnoc, Borouge and Julphar, will also look at cooperation between companies in China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the fields of technology and chemical production. The UAE delegation will be led by Abdullah Ahmad Al Saleh, under-secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Trade, who is also expected to address the forum.

Wang Zhengwei, Chairman of the People's Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, told reporters that the turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa region will not affect the Forum attendance.

He said that Ningxia will provide preferential taxation policies to businesses from the Arab countries and take this opportunity to turn itself into a design, manufacturing, exposition and logistics hub to serve Arab and Muslim countries, he said.