A Chinese delegation with many senior Chinese officials visited the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) to discuss how to strengthen cooperation and trade.
The delegation, led by Wang Heshan, vice governor of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, also discussed the development of bilateral trade between northwestern China as a hub and the Middle East, and the possibility of a trade bridge between the Jebel Ali Free Zone and the Yinchuan Free Trade Zone.
Salma Ali Saif Bin Hareb, CEO of Economic Zones World (EZW), the parent company of the Jebel Ali Free Zone, received the visitors at the free zone. Meanwhile, Salma Ali Saif Bin Hareb emphasized the Jebel Ali Free Zone's desire to strengthen bilateral trade relations, which largely remains an untapped market for imports and exports.
She said: "China is one of our most important trading partners. We are pleased to see the strong interest of the Ningxia region in developing closer business relations with Jafza, which is the logistics hub for businesses and the entire Middle East from West Asia, the CIS and Africa."
"The Jebel Ali Free Zone can be a springboard for northwestern China to leave its footprint on the world. We are very happy to be the trade bridge between northwestern China and the Middle East."
Northwestern China includes the Ningxia Autonomous Region and Xinjiang, Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai. Ningxia ranks among China's most resource-rich provinces, with vast fertile land reserves.
The Ningxia Autonomous Region wants to develop into a leading Halal food manufacturer, textile region and e-commerce hub in northwestern China. The delegation sought to explore comprehensive cooperation to establish a seamless supply chain, promoting free trade flow between the two regions through the Jebel Ali Free Zone.
