YINCHUAN - The third China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum will be held in Northwest China's city of Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui autonomous region, from September 13 to 17, local government sources said Tuesday.

The five-day forum will focus on economic and trade cooperation in infrastructure construction, investment, finance, agriculture, business, energy and desertification control, a spokesman with the regional government said.

A trade fair for vendors to sell halal food, Muslim commodities and other products, as well as a string of cultural activities, will be held alongside the forum, the spokesman said.

The forum has been held annually since 2010.

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

The number of participating countries will increase to 57 from 22 for the previous forum, the spokesman said.