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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, today (January 31) concluded his week-long visit to the Middle East with a series of meetings with top-level government and business leaders in Dubai.
In the morning, Mr Tsang called on the Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Minister of State for Finance and Industry of the UAE, H.E. Dr. Mohammed Khalfan Bin Kharbash, and the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, H.E. Mohammed Al Gergawi in Dubai.
He also attended a roundtable meeting with the Dubai International Financial Centre and later delivered a keynote speech at a luncheon co-organised by the centre.
"The UAE is already Hong Kong's largest trading partner in the Middle East by far. In 2006, bilateral trade was worth US$3.4 billion, and Dubai ¡V as a key entrepot to the Middle East ¡V is a central player in this relationship,¡¨ Mr Tsang told the lunch audience while highlighting Hong Kong¡¦s development of a market for Islamic finance.
He also reminded them that Hong Kong was a co-host city for Equestrian Events in the 2008 Olympic Games and invited their presence in Hong Kong to help celebrate the Olympic Spirit.
Mr Tsang will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (February 1), ending the Middle East tour that included Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Ends/Thursday, January 31, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:40
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