Yinchuan, China The UAE is striving to become the springboard for Chinese exports to the Gulf region, Abdullah Ahmad Al Saleh, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, said during the inauguration of the second China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum at Yinchuan city in the western province of Ningxia yesterday.
"The UAE is a gateway to the Gulf region and market. We can work as a springboard for Chinese goods to enter the Gulf region," he told officials and businessmen from China and over 40 Arab and Muslim countries.
"We wish to build a stronger and more stable relationship with China," he said.
The relationship between the two countries is complementary in nature because China is the world's biggest consumer of energy. The two sides are now promoting non-oil trade, which grew 9 per cent from $11.7 billion to $12.5 billion (Dh42.98 billion to Dh45.92 billion) last year, he said.
"Only through a sound bilateral relationship can we promote trade and economy," Al Saleh said. The UAE and China are important economies in the world, he pointed out.
Inviting Chinese businessmen and representatives from the central and provincial governments in China to the fourth China Arab Entrepreneurs Conference at Sarjah in Dec-ember, Al Saleh said the UAE wanted to enhance business exchanges in infrastructure, tourism and the halal food industry.
More Chinese tourists are now visiting the UAE, he said. Hotels in the UAE are filled with Chinese tourists. "China has become one of the important destinations for UAE tourists," he said. UAE tourists visit China for shopping, sightseeing and for seeing its culture.
"Last year, I spent my holiday with my family in China. We visited several cities in China," Al Saleh said.
Huge potential
There is huge potential for cooperation in the halal food industry. There is a growing demand for halal food as the number of Muslim people in the world is rising, he said.
"We can also export halal food to Muslim countries," he said. Other Islamic products can also become important areas of investments. He said the UAE also wanted to participate in China's plan to develop its western region which includes Ningxia province, where the conference was held.
Jiang Zengwei, China's vice minister for commerce, said his country wanted to build on its trade in energy to develop business links in areas like electronics, home appliances, agriculture and food with the Arab world.
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa, chief executive officer of Bahrain's Economic Development Board, said Gulf Cooperation Council countries were eager to pour more funds into China, which offered opportunities for safe investments. In 2010, sovereign debt investments by the GCC were $8 billion, and this is expected to grow quickly in coming years, he said.
The meeting was also addressed by Mauritanian president Mohammad Ould Abdul Aziz and Sidi Ould Tah, minister of economic affairs and development of Mauritania.
The writer is a freelance journalist based in China.
