BEIJING/DUBAI, Sept 11 (Askume) – Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang on Wednesday urged Beijing and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to accelerate free trade talks.
Li Keqiang made the remarks when he met GCC Secretary General Jassim Boudaiwi in Riyadh, according to China’s official news agency Xinhua. Li is also scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates this week.
Saudi Arabia’s state news agency SPA later reported that Boudhawi stressed the importance of moving forward and completing trade talks in the “near future” at the meeting.
Free trade talks have stalled amid Saudi concerns over cheap Chinese imports, sources told Askume in May .
Sources say Saudi Arabia is concerned that an influx of low-cost Chinese-made products would be detrimental to its industrial agenda.
China and the energy-rich Gulf Cooperation Council, which also includes Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, began free trade talks nearly 20 years ago.
