DCCI receive the newly-appointed Consul General of China in the UAE

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Sultan Majid Lootah, Acting Director of Business Promotion Department in the DCCI.

The meeting discussed the ways of boosting the economic and trade relations between the two countries through increasing the trade volume between China and Dubai and promoting the products of each country through organizing more trade exhibitions and exchanging visits of top commercial delegations from Dubai and China.

Al Mutaiwee welcomed the new Consul General of China and the Chinese Counselor highlighting the strong diplomatic, economic and trade relations between the UAE in general, Dubai in particular, and China, especially after the massive economic reforms which China had witnessed in the past years where it succeeded in marketing the Chinese products in all world markets.

"The DCCI enjoys a strong relationship with China through active coordination with the Chinese Consulate in Dubai which is considered the most active consulate in the country, and through the outstanding business handled by many Chinese companies operating in Dubai which largely help in promoting Chinese products in the UAE and other GCC countries," said Al Mutaiwee.

He added that the DCCI has also received a good number of Chinese trade delegations and missions where they were provided with lots of information about the Dubai Chamber's outstanding commercial services and facilities.

Al Mutaiwee pointed out that the DCCI plays a key role in underlining the significant position of Dubai locally, regionally and internationally through its contribution in boosting trade and economic movement in the emirate, responding to the DCCI's future vision which relies on enhancing its role as a main supporter that ensures Dubai's competitiveness in the business field.

"The DCCI is looking to increase the volume of investments and exchanging visits between trade delegations and businessmen, exchanging expertise and organizing more trade exhibitions in Dubai and China, due to its importance in providing an opportunity for Chinese manufacturers, businessmen and distributors working in the UAE, Dubai in particular, to boost trade cooperation between China and Dubai," said Al Mutaiwee.

His Excellency Gao Youzhen, the new Consul General of China in the UAE, stressed his government's keen interest in developing the trade ties between Dubai and China, adding that the rapid economic growth which Dubai is witnessing has attracted the attention of many investors and businessmen all over the world.

"Dubai's outstanding economic development is attributed to the wise leadership and healthy economic policy, and we are interested in boosting the bilateral trade relations between our two countries, especially that the increasing volume of trade between Dubai and China reflects the high level of trade relations we had with Dubai," said the Chinese Consul General.

He acknowledged the remarkable role played by the Dubai Chamber in developing economy and trade exchange between the UAE and China through the significant cooperation and coordination of the DCCI with the Chinese Trade Office in Dubai.

"The Chinese investors and businessmen are quite interested in extending their trade businesses in Dubai and other GCC countries, and that the Chinese Consulate in Dubai will help improving the bilateral trade cooperation through providing the DCCI and all other government departments and authorities concerned in Dubai with information, services and facilities about China and its trade," Mr. Youzhen added.

Dubai's total foreign non-oil trade with China in 2004 reached AED 18.8 billion (US dollar 5.1 billion), while Dubai's total imports from China in the same year hit AED 18.3 billion (US dollar 5 billion). Dubai's total exports to China in 2004 reached AED 228.1 million (US dollar 62.1 million), whereas Dubai's re-exports to China in the same year reached AED 290.4 million (US dollar 79.1 million).