Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
They discussed bilateral and economic relations and mutual investment between the two countries.
Welcoming Shaikh Mohammad, Jintao expressed the hope that the visit would further boost bilateral relations and co-operation between the UAE and China.
"It is a great honour for me to visit China for the second time and meet the Chinese leader as well as to closely get to know the great civilisation of the Chinese people," Shaikh Mohammad said.
"The UAE leadership and people have great respect for the Chinese leadership and people," he added.
Shaikh Mohammad highlighted the volume of trade between the UAE and China and the outstanding economic ties between the two countries.
Invitation
He invited Jintao to visit the UAE. "President Jintao's visit to the UAE last January was not official, and I'm hereby extending this official invitation," he said.
Shaikh Mohammad toured the old city of Beijing, visiting shops at old Beijing streets, including Wangfujing, one of the Chinese capital's oldest and most famous shopping streets, where Chinese handicrafts and foods are sold. He walked the one-km pedestrian only street and was greeted by shopkeepers, street vendors and shoppers.
Earlier, Shaikh Mohammad arrived in Beijing on a four-day state visit to China.
He is accompanied by a high-level delegation along with business and media representatives.
The delegation includes Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group, Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Reem Ebrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State, Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World, Mohammad Al Abbar, Chairman of Dubai Department of Economic Development, Lieutenant General Musabbah Rashid Al Fattan Director of the Office of the Ruler of Dubai, Director of the Foreign Minister's Office Rashid Hareb Al Falahi, Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Chairman of the Protocol and Guest Department and Mohammad Rashid Al Bot, UAE Ambassador to China.
