Trade between China, Arab League members hits record high in first 7 months

China

Trade between China, Arab League members hits record high in first 7 months

2025-08-27 14:18 Last Updated At：08-28 00:47

Trade between China and members of the Arab League reached 1.72 trillion yuan (about 241.61 billion U.S. dollars) during the first seven months of 2025, setting a record for this period and rising 3.2 percent year on year, official data showed on Tuesday.

According to the General Administration of Customs, bilateral trade has expanded steadily in recent years, with China remaining this bloc's largest trading partner for several consecutive years.

In July alone, China's imports and exports to the Arab League reached 245.31 billion yuan, up 6.9 percent year on year. The country exported 135.54-billion-yuan worth of goods to the bloc last month, while imports totaled 109.77 billion yuan.

Complementary economies and a mutually beneficial trade structure continue to fuel cooperation between the two sides.

From January to July, more than 40 percent of China's crude oil imports were sourced from this bloc. Imports of natural gas, refined oil and metal ores from Arab League member states were all on the rise, providing important guarantees for the stable energy resource supply in China.

During the same period, China shipped 557.66 billion yuan of machinery and electronic products to the bloc, increasing 22 percent year on year and accounting for nearly 60 percent of its total exports to the bloc.

China is also deepening agricultural collaboration with the bloc, providing support in developing modern farming systems while expanding imports of signature agricultural products.

In the first seven months, China's exports of agricultural machinery and crop seeds to Arab League member states increased by 10.5 percent and 10.4 percent, respectively. Imports of edible aquatic products from Oman hit a record high for this period, while imports of Egyptian frozen strawberries, Lebanese chocolate and Algerian wool grew by 54.7 percent, 38.2 percent and 12.8 percent, respectively.

Chinese FM calls for preserving hard-won momentum of ceasefire in Iran

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that the top priority is to make every effort to prevent the conflict from reigniting in the Middle East and maintain the hard-won momentum of the ceasefire. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

During their phone conversation, Dar briefed Wang on Pakistan's mediation efforts to facilitate talks between Iran and the United States, and expressed appreciation for China's efforts to promote peace. He also voiced Pakistan's willingness to maintain close communication and coordination with China to jointly play a constructive role in realizing regional peace.

Reiterating China's principled position, Wang commended Pakistan for facilitating a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran and for hosting the Islamabad talks, where it played a fair and balanced mediating role.

The current ceasefire is fragile, and the regional situation is at a critical turning point, said Wang.

He urged the international community to step up efforts to promote peace and dialogue, and take a clear stand against any action that could undermine the ceasefire or escalate confrontation.

The five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East region proposed by China and Pakistan reflects the consensus of the international community on promoting peace and can continue to serve as a direction of efforts toward resolving the issue, said Wang.

China welcomes Pakistan's greater role, and stands ready to work with Pakistan and the rest of the international community to continue making positive contributions to an early restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East, said the Chinese minister.