The internationally recognized Yemeni government on Friday, June 28th, 2024, called for a "serious" return of Chinese institutions and companies to Yemen to complete commercial and construction activities that were halted due to the Houthi group's coup, designated as a terrorist organization by the international community.

This call was made during a meeting between Minister of Industry and Trade, Mohammed al-Ashwal, and Deputy Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Yu Jianlong, in the Chinese capital, Beijing, according to the official Yemeni news agency Saba.

According to the agency, Minister al-Ashwal stated that "the return of Chinese companies to invest in Yemen will represent a contribution towards the sustainability of economic peace and overcoming humanitarian challenges."

He highlighted that Yemen "awaits numerous infrastructure projects, and hopes for the support of the People's Republic of China with its expertise and the bilateral relations that bind the two countries."

Al-Ashwal emphasized Yemen's strategic location, making it a cornerstone for the "Belt and Road" initiative, and advocated for a partnership between the Yemeni and Chinese governments in various fields, including energy, electricity, and the development of Yemeni ports, which are considered crucial stations on the maritime Silk Road.

He also touched upon oil exploration and export, along with other areas, and the Chinese government's participation in rebuilding infrastructure damaged by the war.

The minister commended the deep historical commercial ties between his country and China, which he described as "based on trade exchange, evolving through strategic qualitative steps, embodied in the signing of the Belt and Road Initiative agreement between the Republic of Yemen and the People's Republic of China in 2019."

Al-Ashwal characterized the Belt and Road Initiative agreement as "representing an international approach based on mutual benefit between the two countries," expressing his hope to leverage Chinese experience in various fields.

He attributed the decline in trade exchange between the two countries in recent times to the ongoing war, the Houthi coup against state resources, changes in supply lines, and the difficulty of imports, which require inspection at foreign ports before entering Yemen, leading to damage due to the long distance and sometimes poor storage.

In this context, he also mentioned the Houthi group's attacks on oil facilities, designated as a terrorist organization, and their impact on the Yemeni economy.

For his part, the Deputy Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade reiterated his invitation for the active participation of the Yemeni government in the China Economic Conference, scheduled to be held in the Chinese capital, Beijing, from July 2nd to 5th at the China National Convention Center.