YINCHUAN -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a letter of congratulations to the China-Arab States Expo, which opened Wednesday in Yinchuan, capital of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

Noting that China and the Arab states are "good friends," Xi said the two sides had become important partners in the construction of the Belt and Road.

He also hailed the ever broader cooperation and achievements between the two sides.

Xi said the Arab world actively responded to and widely supported his proposal that the Belt and Road should be built as a road of peace, prosperity, opening up as well as innovation, and one that connects different civilizations, during the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which was held in Beijing this May.

The expo is an important platform for China and Arab countries to expand cooperation, he said.

During the construction of the Belt and Road, China is willing to promote shared opportunities with other countries, including the Arab states, and jointly promote peace with them, Xi added.