The first China-Arab States Expo, a key platform to promote the relationship between China and the Arab states, kicked off on Sunday morning in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended the exposition, which runs until Sept. 19 in the Ningxia capital, Yinchuan.

Foreign leaders, including King Abdullah II Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-khalifa of Bahrain and Vanuatu Prime Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosil attended the opening ceremony.

More than 7,300 domestic and overseas officials, exhibitors, purchasers and investors from Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Syria, Kuwait and other countries have been attracted to the fair.

With the theme of "globally oriented China-Arab states cooperation" and an aim of "carrying forward friendship, cooperation and common development", the event will feature trade fairs and seminars on agriculture, energy, finance, culture, education and tourism.

The Expo is jointly sponsored by China's Ministry of Commerce, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the government of Ningxia. Its predecessor, known as China(Ningxia) International Investment and Trade Fair and the China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum, has been held annually since 2010.

Ningxia is home to more than 10 percent of China's 20 million Muslims.