The China-GCC States Forum on Sustainable Development opened in the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates on Dec 12, 2012.

Wang Zhizhen, vice-chairwoman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC) delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the China-GCC States Forum on Sustainable Development in Abu Dhabi on Dec 12, 2012.[Photo/Gao Qihui/chinadaily.com.cn]??

Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the China-GCC States Forum on Sustainable Development in Abu Dhabi on Dec 12, 2012.?[Photo/Gao Qihui/chinadaily.com.cn]??

During the opening ceremony, Wang Zhizhen, vice-chairwoman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC) hailed the potential cooperation between the two sides.

Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Mohammed Thani Murshed Ghannem Al-Rumaithi, Chairman of the Federation of the UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, also addressed the opening ceremony.

Zayani praised China's support for justice in the Arab world and especially for backing Palestine's appeal to the international community.

China and the GCC states are working closely on international issues, bilateral trade and investment, education and environmental protection etc, said Zayani in his speech during the opening ceremony

About 70 Chinese business representatives, along with a number of their GCC counterparts, gathered in the forum, seeking opportunities for cooperation in various sectors including clean energy, oil, machine manufacturing, and infrastructure construction and so on.

The Forum will include three panels and a closing session. The first panel will cover "Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development," while Panel II will feature two special dialog sessions entitled "China-GCC Stability and Development" and "China-GCC Investment and Trade Prospects." Panel III will deliberate on "Prospects of China-GCC Cooperation."