China-Middle East cooperation is rapidly expanding, with China becoming the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) largest trading partner and a key contributor to regional infrastructure development, according to Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng, Standard Chartered's CEO for Asia, on Sept 6.
Speaking with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the 6th Bund Summit in Shanghai, held from Sept 5 to 7, Hung highlighted that cooperation between China and the GCC includes not only substantial trade in energy and resources, but also China's provision of technology and equipment for the Middle East's expanding infrastructure projects.
"China-Middle East is one of the fastest-growing corridors we are internally seeing. If you look at the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) side of things. China is actually GCC's largest trading partner and it's two ways. Naturally everyone assumes it is one way. It's the kind of energy, oil, resources and their ancillary in terms of their exports to China. That is very, very strong," he said.
"On the flip side, the Middle East is also having a huge amount of development, infrastructure and diversification away from the oil sector. There's huge amount of projects that are being had in the Middle East, whether in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Saudi, et cetera. And with all these infrastructure projects, who are suppling the technology, knowhow, the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) manufacturing and equipment. A big chunk of that is from China. Thus, this is indeed a parallel two-way flow. And that corridor is, again, happening very, very fast. And we are keen to support that," Hung said.
China-Middle East cooperation expands rapidly: SCB executive
Bakers in San Francisco's Chinatown have been adding some new twists to traditional Chinese mooncakes to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Sept 17 this year.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the night when the moon reaches its fullest and brightest on the 15th day of the eighth month on the lunar calendar. Sharing mooncakes, a classic Chinese baked pastry that symbolizes family reunions during the harvest season, with loved ones is an important part of the festival celebrations.
The iCake Bakery in the heart of the city's Chinatown is especially busy at this time of year. This year, the bakery owner Hannah Zhang invited Judy Lee, the vice president of the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce, to make mooncakes.
"So we have here a black sesame filling. It's one of the most unique flavors we have at iCafe. And now we're going to put in an egg yolk," said Lee, translating for Zhang.
Just around the corner at the AA Cafe, owner Henry Chen has also been experimenting with some new twists on the classic treat.
"We have a lot of different [flavors], like the date, melon, pineapple, strawberry, mango and seasoned nuts," said Chen.
Visitors to San Francisco's Chinatown can find all sorts of mooncakes, especially in the months leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Whether it is a traditional or modern variety, it is a way to connect with a tradition that stretches back more than a thousand years and to remind people what the historic Chinatown community has to offer.
"In the spirit of the Moon Festival, it gives us another reason to gather with our friends and family to attract people who've never been to San Francisco's Chinatown and see why there's so much preservation here. It is the oldest Chinatown in the nation still," said Lee.
Bakers in San Francisco offer new treats for mooncake lovers for Mid-Autumn Festival
