The Bahrain-Shenzhen Business Forum was held in Shenzhen on the morning of November 16, 2018. The main topic of this forum was how to deepen the bilateral cooperation between Bahrain and Shenzhen in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. Anwar Yusuf Abdulla Alabdulla, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to China, and Ai Xuefeng, Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen, attended the forum as special guests and witnessed the signing of a number of memorandums of economic and trade cooperation.

Danny Ye, Director of the Global Business Development Department of CIMC Vehicles, attended the forum on behalf of CIMC Vehicles. According to Danny Ye, although Bahrain is a very small country, we set up an office in Bahrain given its geographical location, with a view to building presence in Middle East countries. Furthermore, Bahrain has complete infrastructure, and the investment environment and import and export policies for surrounding countries are relatively loose, which is very conducive to the survival and development of overseas subsidiaries. Danny Ye noted, unlike other traditional Arab countries, the people in Bahrain have positive attitude towards work and high efficiency, which can help overseas companies more quickly adapt to the local culture and working environment and get down to work to create value. Our company in Bahrain has benefited from that.

At the Q&A session, the host put forward the question: "In the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, how does CIMC Vehicles view the Middle East market?" Danny Ye said, "The Middle East almost occupies the most important strategic position in the world as a link between East and West. The Belt and Road Initiative is an important opportunity to accelerate the development of countries along the Belt and Road. As we all know, China has always adhered to the concept of 'common development' in the international community. Since the birth of the Belt and Road Initiative, China has been making contributions to and sharing resources with countries in the Middle East and the pan-gulf region in the past five years, providing many opportunities for the development of infrastructure, high-speed railway, e-commerce and other industries in relevant regions. The above several industries are inseparable with 'transport,' which is the strength of CIMC Vehicles. We, by adhering to the business development concept of "global operation with the wisdom of local employees," hope to go deep into the local market and provide the most suitable transportation solutions according to local conditions, so as to promote better and faster development of the local transportation industry. Thus, we see the Belt and Road Initiative as an important opportunity, not just for CIMC Vehicles, but for every enterprise in the Middle East and the pan-gulf region."

Link on people.com.cn: ttp://sz.people.com.cn/n2/2018/1117/c202846-32298485.html

Relevant links: In 2016, CIMC Vehicles decided to set up an overseas subsidiary and CKD assembly plant in Bahrain after several investigations. Based in Bahrain as the stronghold, we planned to build presence in the Middle East and the pan-gulf region. In early January 2017, CIMC Vehicles (Bahrain) Factory W.L.L., an overseas subsidiary jointly built by CIMC Vehicles and Zahid Tractor & Heavy Machinery (a Saudi company), was officially put into operation.