YINCHUAN, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Twenty students from northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, home to about 10 percent of China's 20 million Muslims, traveled to Dubai on Friday to participate in an Arabian culture training session intended to boost trade ties between the region and Arab countries.

The 20 students, who were chosen from the region's Arabic language teachers, will attend the 71-day training session at the University of Dubai, according to an official from the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Regional Committee.

The students will study Arabian culture, literature, politics, diplomacy, economy and law. The Organization Department hopes they will promote the understanding and study of the Arabic language in Ningxia when they return.

Ningxia is China's sole autonomous region for the Hui ethnic people, who are largely descended from foreign Muslims. The Hui people were forced to move or voluntarily migrated into China during the early years of the 13th century, when Mongolian troops were conducting expeditions.

Ningxia served as a "melting pot" of Chinese and Arabian culture in ancient times, functioning as a bridge for trade and cultural exchanges between China and Arabian nations.