UAE Ministry of Economy undersecretary speaks at China-Eurasia Expo

During a speech at the fifth China-Eurasia Expo in Urumqi, China, Abdullah Al Saleh, undersecretary of the UAE’s Ministry of Economy for Foreign Trade and Industry, emphasized his nation's role as a trade gateway for Chinese businesses and investments coming into the region.
 
Al Saleh noted that the volume of exchange between the UAE and China has grown 16 percent annually over the past six years. He pointed to the fact that China stood at the top of Dubai’s trading partner list at a value of roughly $1.2 billion during the first quarter of 2016.
 
The UAE is an important trading partner not just for oil, Al Saleh claimed, but also for textiles. China is the largest provider of such goods to the UAE, accounting for close to 36.6 percent of the state’s total fabric imports.
 
Additionally, Al Saleh talked about how the UAE is presently focusing on other economic sectors to boost a diversified, knowledge-based economy in accordance with UAE Vision 2021, which emphasizes technology, renewable energy and small and medium-sized enterprises. Maintaining such a modern infrastructure helps international trade, including with China.