Editor's note: Situated inland in Northwest China and north of the Great Wall, the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, a major Muslim area, has been striving to open up and strengthen its cultural and economic ties with the world, especially the Arab community. It will host the 2015 China-Arab States Expo from Thursday to Sunday. China Daily recently talked with Li Jianhua, the Party chief and top legislator of Ningxia, to find out more.

What do you think of the role and functions that China-Arab cooperation and exchanges play in the State's Belt and Road Initiative?

Li: There has been a long history of cooperation and exchanges between China and Arab countries. The renowned ancient Silk Road linked us together 2,000 years ago to facilitate trade and travel, as well as cultural and technological exchanges. Since the reform and opening-up, especially in the past few years, we have seen gradually deepening cooperation and closer exchanges and are witnessing great progress in economic collaboration. The value of bilateral trade has risen from $25.5 billion to $251.2 billion in the past decade, since the beginning of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in 2004.