40 October 2018 www.bahrainthismonth.com His Excellency Anwaer, Chinese Ambassador, spoke to Liz O’Reilly ahead of Chinese National Day. Congratulations on your new role. Is this your first ambassadorial posting? Please tell us about your previous positions. It is the first ambassadorial post for me. I used to work in the Chinese Embassy and Consulate-General in Saudi Arabia for 17 years. I was the Consul-General of China in Jeddah. How are you liking Bahrain so far? What do you see as your main tasks while you are here? Bahrain enjoys a reputation as the pearl of the Gulf with its excellent history, developed economy and diversified culture. I believe that with the development of bilateral, friendly, cooperative relations between China and Bahrain, the Belt and Road Initiative will help Bahrain to achieve economic transformation and upgrading, promote the strategy of diversification, and realise the prospect of political stability, economic prosperity, social harmony and improving people’s livelihood. I am pretty happy to live and work in Bahrain and make lots of Bahraini friends. I wish to enhance the all-around exchange and cooperation, constantly solidifying the foundation of political mutual trust and enjoying the mutual benefits of cooperation achievement between China and Bahrain with the joint efforts of all the diplomats of my mission and all my Bahraini friends. I do believe that the comprehensive cooperation between China and Bahrain offers historical opportunity, especially with the integration and implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative and Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030. I firmly believe that our bilateral relations will have more beautiful prospects. I do believe that with the rapid development of the economic cooperation and personnel exchanges between China and Bahrain, the number of Chinese people in Bahrain will increase constantly. What are the current trade figures between China and Bahrain? Can you outline in which areas you would expect growth to come? According to Bahrain Government statistics, trade volume in 2017 was about USD2 billion. I believe that with the integration of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Bahrain’s Economic Outlook 2030, we will further tap cooperative potential. In recent years, the number of Chinese enterprises investing in Bahrain has risen rapidly. At present, they cover all areas of cooperation, including information and communications, high-end manufacturing, environmental protection and project contracting, such as Huawei Technologies, CPIC Abahsain Fiberglass, China Machinery Engineering Corporation, et cetera. I know, CPIC Abahsain Fiberglass is planning to invest USD500 million to extend to four production lines. CMEC is now negotiating with the Ministry of Housing on guaranteed financing clauses for a social housing project. The first phase of investment will be pretty huge at USD550 million. CELEBRATING STRONG TIES this month INTERVIEWS Scan the code to see more of what His Excellency had to say. A Lasting Reminder, p42 The Urban Artist, p44 Veterans in Klub Takeover, p46 Artistic Talent Recognised, p48 HE Anwaer
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==