UAE opens at China trade fair

UAE Foreign Trade Minister Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi accompanied by Deputy Chinese Deputy Vice-Premier Li Keqiang inaugurated on Friday the UAE pavilion at The China’s Ningxia International Investment and Trade Fair 2012, being held from Sept.12-16. The event was also attended by Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Trade UAE Ambassador to China Omer Ahmed Udai Nasib Al Bittar, Mohammed Hamdan Al Zaabi, Director of the Department of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Foreign Trade, a number of economists and free trade zone officials, representatives of companies. Sheikha Lubna welcomed the Chinese official and thanked him for participation in the inauguration ceremony of the UAE pavilion, stressing that the step reflects the depth of friendship ties between peoples and leadership of both countries. She presented a demonstration the participation of the UAE at the exhibition. The UAE minister said China is an important market to the UAE, and it is one of major exporters to the UAE, citing that the volume of non oil trade stood at about $16 billion in 2011. For his part, the Chinese Vice Premier said the huge and qualitative UAE participation in this event “constitutes an important step regarding introduction of UAE industries, besides oil and gas, to the world.” Sheikha Lubna also met Governor of Ningxia Wang Zhang and conveyed to him the regards of UAE leadership and people. The UAE minister presented the copy of ‘Why the UAE’ in Chinese version to the Governor, who appreciated the book that he said would further introduce the UAE to the Chinese business sector. Investment forum Sheikha Lubna also 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. Rashid Mohamed Al Shariqi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), said the Authority had adopted the best international practices and strategies in regard to food safety, accomplishing, as a result, a total transformation.