China is well positioned as Dubai’s top trading partner, with bilateral trade volume valued at$12.8 billion in the first quarter of 2015, director of Dubai Customs, Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, revealed recently following a business meeting with Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai, Li Lingbing.
Musabih hailed the exceptional UAE-China commercial relations, noting that Dubai-China trade scored a record $47.7 billion in 2014.
The Chinese Consul General Li Lingbing praised the role played by DC in pushing the reel of bilateral trade by putting in place top customs services and facilitations for Chinese traders and investors. She also stressed the importance of enhancing economic cooperation and coordination for stronger economic relations between China and the UAE.
Ahmed Mahboob Musabih remarked: “Dubai takes on a vibrant role to keep the Chinese commodities flowing to the world. Dubai has become a major platform for networking the Chinese market with European and African markets.”
Musabih further noted that “Dubai Customs’ strive to boost trade with China calls for closer economic ties and supports the flow of Chinese investments to Dubai; coupled with the growing number of Chinese companies that make Dubai their regional office for managing their business throughout Europe and Africa.”
Meanwhile, in related developments, at the invitation of China Customs, Dubai Customs (DC) took part in the “Connectivity and Win-Win Development Forum for Heads of Customs Administrations along the Belt and Road”, held in Xi’an, China.
The forum gathered high-profile Customs representatives from 64 countries and eight international and regional organizations. Participants exchanged their experiences and insights through three parallel sub-forums.
The forum aimed to strengthen connectivity among international customs, and to promote trade facilitation and regional economic development of the countries along the “Belt and Road”.
The ‘Belt and Road’ refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative proposed by China in 2013 for improved cooperation with countries and regions in a vast part of Asia, Europe and Africa.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Minister Yu Guangzhou of China Customs expressed China’s strive to create new partnerships with countries along the “Belt and Road”, particularly Arab countries.
Dubai trade with Asian countries mounted up to $224.25 billion in 2014, with China making its way to become Dubai’s top trade partner with a trade value of $47.7 billion during the past year.
The Emirate has gone the extra mile in sustaining astonishing breakthroughs by creating adequate and attractive infrastructures and facilitative customs services in ports, airports and free zones alike; in order to lure Asian capital and investors to shift their attention into Dubai as their trading base.
