Official calls for boosting Arab-Chinese sea transport ties

ALEXANDRIA: President of the Arab Sea Ports Federation (ASPF) Sheikh Sheikh Yousef Abdullah Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah has stressed necessity of enhancing the Arab-Chinese cooperation in maritime transport. Sheikh Yousef, who is also Director General of the Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) and the Arab transport sector, made the call in a statement on Tuesday after attending the 52nd meeting of ASPF’s board and the second of the Arab Federation of Transport in Alexandria, Egypt.

He added that they had discussed a host of topics focusing on how the Arab transport sector and ports could benefit from China’s “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) initiative that combines the land-based “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the maritime “21st Century Maritime Silk Road.” He added that participants decided to organize a workshop in Kuwait in January to prepare for a scheduled visit by the ASPF and the Arab transport sector to China to hold discussions on the initiative.

Sheikh Yousef voiced hope for enhancing cooperation with China, and increasing the Arab exports to the vast Chinese market. The meeting also addressed a study on forming an emergency integrated team for the federation to intervene in case a catastrophe hits any Arab port, he said. For his part, ASPF Secretary General Admiral Essam Al-Din Badawi emphasized the need of sharing information and expertise among the Arab countries on sea ports. Badawi reiterated ASPF’s keenness on developing the human element. He also said work is proceeding by leaps and bounds to complete the federation’s website by the end of the year. — KUNA