Wang Zhengwei, the chairman of the People's Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and a delegate to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, stressed the significance of establishing a new Ningxia economic inland pilot zone and a comprehensive bonded area in Yinchuan when he attended the meeting in Beijing.

Wang Zhengwei, the chairman of the People's Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, receives an interview with China.com.cn. [Photo: China.com.cn]

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang announced the approval of the establishment of a Ningxia Inland Pilot Economic Zone and Yinchuan Comprehensive Bonded Area during the 3rd China-Arab Economic and Trade Forum this September. It is a national strategy and national platform, said Wang Zhengwei. He added that there is no readily available experience to learn from in the field of inland economic zone construction and they will serve as its trail blazers. However, he expressed that the development of the two zones will certainly present Ningxia with unprecedented opportunities.

The China-Arab Economic and Trade Forum will be upgraded to the China-Arab Expo next year. Wang Zhengwei said that measures will be tightened in order to create a more internationalized, professional and renowned exposition and facilitate economic and trade cooperation between China and the Arab states.

On a final note, Wang stressed that poverty alleviation still poses a challenge in Ningxia as there are one million poverty-stricken people. But he was confident that with the development of the two zones and the annual China-Arab expo, economic development in Ningxia is bound to blossom over the next five years.