Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao on Tuesday called on China and the Gulf Cooperation Council to speed up free trade agreement (FTA) negotiation.

Li made the remarks when he met with Kuwaiti Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who led a delegation to the just-concluded Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

Li said China and Kuwait should take advantage of the Belt and Road Initiative to promote cooperation in energy, finance, and industrial parks.

The Kuwaiti minister congratulated China on the success of the forum, saying Kuwait is willing to deepen cooperation with China in various fields.

The GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. China and the bloc first started FTA talks in 2004 but efforts stalled after five years. Negotiation reopened in 2016.

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