The Lebanese Chinese Business Association says the renewed attacks by Israel on Lebanon have disrupted trade, especially with the country's number one trading partner, China.
The Lebanese Chinese Business Association is an organization that fosters trade and investment ties between China and Lebanon. Established in 2015, it has worked on promoting and improving the business climate for Chinese companies in Lebanon.
China exports electronics, electric appliances, shoes, clothes, office and home furniture, and more, while Lebanon exports olive oil, alcohol, jewelery, haute couture and mixed nuts, according to president of the association Ali Al Abdullah.
In a recent interview with CGTN, Abdullah said the two countries' trade was 2.8 to 3 billion U.S. dollars a year on average. But now it is decreasing because of the war and his organization has ceased operations since the start of the recent conflict.
"We provide Chinese companies with consultation and advice on how to operate within the political situation in Lebanon. We help them to work in a safe environment. Our role as an association is to provide all the required information to the Chinese companies about the country, the markets and how to do business in Lebanon. Most Chinese have been evacuated from Lebanon but some companies are still here and this gives us encouragement that they will stick with us," said Abdullah.
Regarding a popular opinion that Israel's pager explosion attacks have opened the door for Chinese businesses and technology to flourish in Lebanon and Arab countries, Abdullah pointed out that the West has lost credibility, and many Western companies will suffer major losses.
"What happened is a lesson for Lebanon and the world. The pagers explosions in Lebanon has led us and many countries to turn East for technology. Türkiye suspended its purchase of technology from Israel and the West and will now manufacture its own. Lebanon and many other countries will reduce purchases from the west and will buy more technology, including mobile phones, from Chinese companies," said Abdullah.
Abdullah also spoke of the aid efforts of the Chinese embassy, which has been active since the start of the instabilities in Lebanon.
"The Chinese embassy and the Chinese ambassador have quickly moved to support Lebanon. 48 hours after the escalation started, China offered aid to the Lebanon Ministry of Social Affairs to help the displaced. It was the first country to do so and was very much commended. The Chinese embassy contacts us regularly and has since sent more humanitarian support for the displaced Lebanese," said Abdullah.
Conflict sets back Lebanon's trade with biggest partner: business association
China is ready to strengthen the synergy of development strategies with Laos, promote the expansion and improvement of economic and trade cooperation, explore more converging interests and new cooperation opportunities for mutual success and common development, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in Vientiane on Saturday.
Li made the remarks when meeting with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone at the Prime Minister's Office during his official visit to Laos.
China and Laos are good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners that share a river and a common future, Li noted.
Under the strategic guidance of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future has continued to deepen and advance with solid progress, Li said.
China has always regarded the development of relations with Laos as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, and is willing to take the 15th anniversary of the China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership as an opportunity to further implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, deepen political mutual trust, firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests, strengthen solidarity and coordination, and make the China-Laos community with a shared future stronger, more dynamic and effective, so as to better benefit the two peoples, he said.
Li pointed out that China is ready to work with Laos to speed up the development along the China-Laos Railway and juxtaposed border control, and strengthen cooperation in new energy, advanced manufacturing, digital economy and artificial intelligence, among other fields.
China is willing to import more quality agricultural products from Laos, he said, calling on the two sides to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in medical care, education, media, culture and tourism and at sub-national levels to deepen mutual understanding and amity between the two peoples and consolidate China-Laos friendship from generation to generation.
Congratulating Laos on the successful hosting of the leaders' meetings on East Asia cooperation as the rotating chair of ASEAN, Li said that China stands ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Laos in the United Nations, ASEAN, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and other multilateral mechanisms, actively implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, and jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
For his part, Sonexay warmly congratulated China on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, highly praised China's remarkable development achievements, and sincerely thanked China for its long-term strong support for Laos' economic and social development.
Noting that the top leaders of the two parties and countries signed a new action plan on building the Laos-China community with a shared future in October last year, he said this year marks the opening year for the implementation of the action plan.
Laos is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, strengthen high-level and all-level exchanges in various fields, give full play to the role of the Laos-China Railway in driving economic and trade cooperation, expand collaboration in trade, investment, agriculture, infrastructure, digital economy and others, as well as deepen cultural, people-to-people and tourist exchanges and cooperation, Sonexay said.
Laos is also ready to provide mutual support and cooperation with China in international and regional affairs, jointly safeguard strategic interests, and continuously improve and upgrade the building of the Laos-China community with a shared future, he added.
After their meeting, Li and Sonexay together attended a ceremony which presented cooperation documents on interconnectivity, economy and trade, inspection and quarantine, green development and other fields.
Prior to the meeting, Sonexay held a welcome ceremony for Li at the Prime Minister's Office.
During Li's visit, the two sides released a joint statement between the two countries.
China ready to strengthen synergy of development strategies with Laos: Chinese premier
