UAE-Sino Forum for Investment, Trade Kicks Off

UAE Foreign Trade Minister Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi attended the UAE-Sino Forum for Investment and Trade, which commenced on Thursday in Chinese City of Yinchuan. Sheikha Lubna stressed in her inaugural speech the importance of the UAE-Sino Partnership in different sectors, indicating that the partnership was growing amid the mutual visits of officials from both countries and participation at the fairs and forums, of which the latest was participation of the UAE at The China Ningxia International Investment and Trade Fair 2012 and the 3rd Sino-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum. She expressed her appreciation to the Chinese government and Ningxia Provincial government for their role in holding the forum.

The forum represents an important platform for both sides to present their views on development of the relations between the two countries, and benefiting from merits of each side to further boost the UAE-Sino Partnership. For his part, UAE Ambassador to China Omer Ahmed Udai Nasib Al Bitar, highlighted the historic relations between the UAE and China, referring to the visit of Chinese Head of State Wen Jiaboa to the UAE last January, which was deemed a practical step to cement the economic partnership between the governments of the two countries.

Hani Rashid Al Hamili, Secretary General of the Dubai Economic Council said China is the second trade partner to the UAE, adding that the imports from China stood at about $15 billion in 2011, while the UAE exports to China were $248 million. The re-exportation trade reached $395 million in corresponding period Present were Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, UAE Ambassador to China, a number of UAE officials, public and private companies, businesspersons from both countries and Chinese officials.