| Representatives from home and abroad agreed that boosting the small and medium enterprises would help create more jobs, improve people's livelihoods, develop the economy and maintain social stability at the forth Forum on China-West Asia and North Africa Small and Medium Enterprises Cooperation, held at Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, from June 26 to 27.
"The prosperity of small & medium enterprises will effectively promote the upgrading of economic structures and employ more job-seekers, and is therefore of strategic significance to developing countries, including China and West Asian and North African nations," Li Haifeng, Vice Chairperson of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said at the forum's opening ceremony.
"By means of party-to-party exchanges, the forum aims to set up a platform for entrepreneurs from China and West Asian and North African countries to share business experiences and develop potential opportunities for cooperation," said Li Jinjun, Vice Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China's Central Committee, at the opening ceremony.
As the largest developing country in the world, China has gained experience in developing small and medium enterprises. Meanwhile, its huge market and large-scale overseas investments are great opportunities for the development of enterprises in West Asian and North African countries. "It is estimated that China has an import demand of $1 billion and will invest up to $50 million in overseas markets in the next five years," said Li.
West Asian and North African countries hoped that the forum would be a platform for them to learn from China's experience in boosting domestic enterprises in terms of technology, talent training and financing. "Their success is a combination of hard work, clear vision, innovation and research before putting any idea into practice," said Ann Itto, Deputy Secretary General of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, the ruling party of South Sudan.
She invited Chinese companies to invest in her country's solar energy sector. "We have sunshine, but as a brand new country, we don't have the technology, the money or people who know how to tap this resource," Ann told ChinAfrica.
Changzhou is home to excellent resources for such work. Trina Solar, one of China's top four photovoltaic product makers, is located in Changzhou. "Although countries in West Asian and North African regions are rich in oil, they are aware of the value that solar energy has for sustainable development," said Li Peng, who is in charge of the company's Middle East branch.
His company set its sights on West Asian and North African markets four years ago and established a branch firm there about two years ago. "Our market share there is currently small, but some of our company's products sell well in the region," Li added.
The forum was hosted by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Jiangsu provincial government, and was attended by 150 representatives from 19 countries in West Asian and North African regions. About nine business agreements and memoranda were signed at the forum. | 
