TUNIS, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- In an industrial park in Sousse province in eastern Tunisia, a car with the logo of Chinese automaker Geely drove slowly out of the production line on Friday, becoming the first assembled passenger car in Tunisia.
"The first assembled car in Tunisia was a Chinese brand, an exemplary cooperation between Tunisian and Chinese companies," Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Wang Wenbin said at the ceremony.
Under a deal between Geely and Tunisian Zouari group, a total of 2,000 Geely "model GC6" cars will be assembled in one year, and a modern automobile production base, integrating localized production of auto parts, assembly and logistics, will also be established in Tunisia in five years.
Wang pointed out that China-made automobiles have improved their international status, while Tunisia has achieved industrial diversification.
The successful operation of the Geely assembly line reflects the vitality of the cooperation between China and Tunisia in economic and commercial areas, the Chinese envoy said.
Hafedh Zouari, president of Tunisian Zouari group, said the idea of forming partnership with China's manufacturing industry dated back to over 20 years ago.
"With the fast development of China's automobile industry in recent years, the desire to cooperate with China in producing cars becomes stronger and stronger," said Zouari.
"This cooperation will allow us to improve the skills of competitive Tunisian workforce and create an automobile industry with independent production capacity in the future," Zouari added.
