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The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, returned to Hong Kong today (December 12) after concluding his trade mission to the Middle East. Before leaving Dubai, Mr Tsang called on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
At the invitation of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Mr Tsang went to his private villa in the desert area on the outskirts of the city for the meeting yesterday evening (December 11, Dubai time). Mr Tsang said in the meeting that the brilliant economic developments of the UAE are best reflected by the role it is playing in the Gulf region and the whole world. The UAE is Hong Kong's largest trading partner in the Middle East. Hong Kong and the UAE share much in common and there is much to learn from each other. As both places are financial and business hubs of their regions, enhancing collaboration will definitely create an enormous synergy effect.
Mr Tsang highlighted the fact that both Islamic finance and offshore Renminbi business have emerged as important global financial services, and Hong Kong and the UAE have ample opportunities to work even more closely. Both sides agreed to further enhance collaboration and deepen their business and investment relationship in order to achieve mutual benefits by promoting sustainable economic development.
Mr Tsang led a business delegation to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE from December 7 to 11 to explore emerging business opportunities in the Middle East market and to showcase Hong Kong's Islamic finance platform to Islamic economies.
Ends/Friday, December 12, 2014
Issued at HKT 12:46
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