China-Arab trade sees nearly-10-fold rise from 2004 to 2025: Arab League chief

Trade between China and members of the Arab League witnessed a meteoric rise from 46 billion U.S. dollars in 2004 to a staggering 409 billion dollars in 2025, delivering benefits to both sides, said Secretary-General of the league Ahmed Aboul-Gheit.

In an interview with China Media Group (CMG) that aired on Friday, Aboul-Gheit said complementary economies and a mutually beneficial trade structure continue to fuel cooperation between the two sides.

"The trade in 2004 was possibly running around 46 billion dollars a year, the exchange between both. This year, it is approaching 409 billion dollars up till now in 2025. Maybe 10 folds increase. That shows that cooperation leads to benefits for both," he said.

China has been the Arab world's undisputed top trading partner for many years. The Arab League was among the first original bloc anywhere in the world to endorse the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which yielded over 200 large-scale projects, benefiting nearly 2 billion people from both sides.

"All Arab countries are contributing to the Belt and Road. All of them are members and working together with the Chinese directly for the Belt and Road success," said Aboul-Gheit.

He said this robust China-Arab trade and economic relationship was rooted in history and he looks to see more cooperation across the board in the future, especially in new areas.

"Everything, from AI - making strides and success in AI - to sciences, to education, to everything. The sky is the limit for all kinds of cooperation between Arab countries and China," he said.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Arab countries, and the second China-Arab States Summit is scheduled to be held in China, a milestone in the history of China-Arab states relations.

The first China-Arab States Summit took place in 2022 in Saudi Arabia, during which both sides committed to building a closer partnership for the future, opening a new chapter in China-Arab relations.

China-Arab trade sees nearly-10-fold rise from 2004 to 2025: Arab League chief

France and Canada opened consulates in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, on Friday to show support for their NATO ally Denmark.

It comes amid repeated threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to acquire the Arctic territory, which have caused months of strained relations with Europe.

France is the first European Union (EU) country to establish a diplomatic mission in Greenland.

Jean-Noel Poirier has taken up the post as the French consul general in Nuuk, a move to strengthen France's consular network, the French Foreign Ministry said in a post on social media X.

Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Canadian Governor General Mary Simonand and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt attended the opening ceremony of Canada's new consulate.

Simonand will also meet with Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen during her stay, local media reported.

Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland, a move that has been repeatedly rejected by Europe.

France, Canada open consulates in Greenland in support of Denmark