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Dubai gears up for theme show in Shanghai

Xinhua, October 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

Leading entities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are gearing up for the impending second Dubai Week in China's Shanghai to boost bilateral ties.

Due on Oct. 27, the event will see a delegation of 60 to 80 dignitaries, decision makers and professionals from various Dubai entities. The first Dubai Week was held in Beijing in May last year.

Reem Al-Hashimy, the UAE minister of state for international cooperation, hailed the bilateral relationship and highlighted the common goals of the UAE's focus on the East and China's Belt and Road initiative.

This event presents a tremendous opportunity to further strengthen the bilateral ties, said Al-Hashimy, also the honorary president of Dubai's government-controlled Falcon and Associates initiative, who organize the event with the support of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (SMCC).

China emerged in 2014 as the biggest trade partner of Dubai which is considered the hub for business, trade, banking and tourism in the UAE. Bilateral exchange hit 48 billion U.S. dollar in 2015.

Cong Hongbin, the managing director of invest Dubai of Falcon and Associates, which promotes Dubai across the globe, believed that Dubai can contribute to China's idea of "soft power" to the Belt and Road initiative.

"Dubai-China relations are booming, and we see room for potential in bilateral exchange of human capital and intelligence," he said.

Earlier last month, the UAE government announced that Chinese citizens will be soon getting visas on arrival at the UAE's international airport.

Other areas of cooperation include renewable energy and world class industrial standards, said Cong, who was born in Xi'an, the capital of China's Shaanxi Province and the starting point of the new Silk Road Economic Belt which stretches across Central Asia to Western Europe.

Meanwhile, the business wheel linking both sides keeps spinning. Earlier last week, Tecno Mobile, a China-based mobile phone manufacturer, opened its regional Middle East headquarters in Dubai.

The Gulf state now has 4,200 Chinese firms, 249 trade agencies and 5,451 Chinese trade brands, according to China Foreign Trade Center.

Thirteen Chinese cities are connected to Dubai with over 100 weekly flights. Earlier on Saturday, Dubai's state-owned Emirates Airline upgraded its flights to Guangzhou with its flagship carrier Airbus A380 plane. Endit