Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the China-Arab States Expo in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Sept. 15, 2013. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

YINCHUAN, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Top Chinese political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Sunday called for further expansion of cooperation with Arab countries in energy resources and trade.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the China-Arab States Expo in Yinchuan, capital city of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

President Xi Jinping sent a letter of congratulations on the opening of the fair, saying that China was willing to conduct all-round cooperation with Arab states to benefit the people of both sides and contribute to world prosperity.

Yu advocated that China and the Arab nations should further consolidate mutual political trust and deepen economic and trade cooperation. He also called for more active mutual exchanges in culture and human resources.

He officially announced that the China (Ningxia) International Investment and Trade Fair and the China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum, which was held annually from 2010 to 2012, has now been renamed China-Arab States Expo.

Before the opening ceremony, the top political advisor visited several exhibition halls including the one of Kuwait, the Country of Honor and the hall featuring China-Arab energy and chemical industries.

More than 7,300 domestic and overseas officials, exhibitors, purchasers and investors from Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Syria, Kuwait and other countries were present at the event.

The expo is scheduled to run from Sept. 15 to 19 in Ningxia, which is home to more than 10 percent of China's 20 million Muslims.