ABU DHABI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates Minister of Economy Sultan Al-Mansouri said Wednesday UAE is keen to strengthen co-operation with China on the basis of One Belt and One Road initiative, UAE state news agency WAM reported.
Al-Mansouri delivered the statement to WAM, following his visit to China's Hong Kong. Al Mansouri said that the UAE and Hong Kong share numerous economic goals that have contributed to the development of the growing economic relations between them.
The visit to Hong Kong on May 18-19 included the participation of the UAE delegation, led by the Minister of Economy, in a number of dialogue sessions within the activities at the Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong.
The Belt and Road initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, launched by the Chinese president in 2013.
The Minister of Economy stressed the importance of the China-proposed initiative as it has a direct impact on the promotion of international trade by opening up opportunities for the development of economic co-operation among more than 60 countries across the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa, the WAM report quoted Al-Mansouri.
Stressing that the UAE's economic and trade relations with China and Hong Kong are strong, Al-Mansouri said that there are many opportunities to promote existing economic relations to the highest levels.
The UAE, a major oil supplier and the economically most diversified Gulf Arab country, is keen to strengthen co-operation with China's mainland and Hong Kong, said the minister.