YINCHUAN - An economic and trade forum between China and Arab region countries kicked off Wednesday in northwest China's Ningxia, the country's only provincial-level autonomous region for the Hui ethnic group.

The 3rd China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum, also known as the China (Ningxia) International Investment and Trade Fair, is scheduled to be held from September 12 to 16 in the region's capital Yinchuan.

More than 7,000 domestic and overseas officials, exhibitors, purchasers and investors from Libya, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar and other developing countries such as Thailand and Malaysia, will be attending the event, according to the organizing committee.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang, and foreign leaders, including President of Central Africa Francois Bozize, President of Micronesia Emanuel Mori and Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Michael Thomas Somare attended the opening ceremony.

With the theme of "cooperation for future development," the forum includes a trade fair, seminars on energy, agriculture, finance, halal and cultural exchanges, and Arabic ethnic performances.

The annual event is jointly sponsored by China's Ministry of Commerce, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been selected as the guest country of honor. At the forum, a national pavilion of UAE has been set up, and a friendly soccer match between China and UAE will be held on Wednesday evening.

China has good diplomatic relations with Arab countries. Close ties between the two sides have covered not only economic trade and politics, but also culture, environmental protection, and personnel exchanges, said UAE Foreign Trade Minister, Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi.

The countries are working together in diversified fields, based on mutual benefit and respect, she said.

The League of Arab States has become China's seventh largest trading partner. Trade between China and the member countries surged up 34.7 percent to $195.9 billion last year.

"At the current rate, we believe that the number will rise to $300 billion within two years," she said.