Trade between China and Arab countries has maintained steady growth since 2011, despite regional political unrest.
Trade between China and countries in the Middle East and North Africa totaled 111.78 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2012, a year-on-year growth of 22.1%. The figure was 195.9 billion U.S. dollars last year, up 34.7% from 2010.
Trade between China and Arab countries that were stricken by political turmoil last year notably rebounded in the first half of 2012. Sino-Libyan increased by 130% to 4.83 billion U.S. dollars over the same period last year.
Trade between China and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the first six months this year increased by 29.1% to 77.72 billion U.S. dollars.
GCC members Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman contributed to about 70% of Sina-Arab trade.
China is a major energy importer and producer of machinery, while GCC members are key energy exporters and buyers of machinery, allowing for the creation of a long-term partnership.
However, the unrest in Syria and the Sudan-South Sudan relationship have affected business relations with China. In the first six months, trade between China and Sudan dropped by 64.9%, while trade with Syria was reduced by 37.9%.
China has worked to consolidate its business relations with Arab countries.
