MANAMA: Two major agreements are expected to be signed by Bahrain and China.

More than a 100 business leaders from the Chinese region of Ningxia, led by its vice governor and the China Chamber of International Commerce are visiting Bahrain.

As part of a two-day visit the delegation met Economic Development Board (EDB) chief executive Khalid Al Rumaihi and Industry and Commerce Ministry and Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry officials.

The visit, designed to boost business and trade ties between the two countries, included a Bahrain-China business seminar and a number of high-level meetings between business leaders.

Two agreements on promoting trade are expected to be signed during the visit.

‘There is evidence that Bahrain and China were trading along the old silk road hundreds of years ago,’ Mr Al Rumaihi said.

‘This long history provides a strong foundation for the future of the relationship between our two countries as Bahrain has become a hub today for Chinese businesses looking to access the fast-growing Gulf and wider Middle East region.

‘The GCC states are diversifying their economies away from oil and gas and have rapidly expanding affluent populations.

‘This presents significant opportunities for international investors, particularly those in China.

‘It also supports the kingdom’s continuous efforts to diversify the economy and create quality jobs.’

A large number of Chinese businesses have already established operations in Bahrain to access the wider GCC market, including: Bank of China, China Harbour Engineering Company, Curtain Wall, Daily Wealth Limited, Wuhan Lingyun Building Decoration Engineering and Huawei.

Furthermore, in September, the Bahrain Dragon City, a Chinese-themed shopping mall housing as many as 500 Chinese companies, will open its doors to the public.