Hala China signs MoU with popular Chinese tourist province to deepen cultural exchange between UAE and China

Hala China, a joint initiative between Meraas and Dubai Holding, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Shaanxi Tourism Group, the Chinese government entity responsible for driving tourism in its northwest province, which will see both parties explore future collaborations on a range of tourism initiatives to drive two-way travel between Dubai and Shaanxi.

The agreement marks another notch in the ever-deepening and productive bilateral relationship between China and the UAE, owing to Hala China’s efforts. It was signed at the China (Shaanxi)-UAE Economic and Trade Conference, held on 11 November 2019 in Dubai.

According to the terms of the MoU, both parties aim to “vigorously support and promote tourism and culture interexchange activities” in Dubai and Shaanxi while intensifying “cooperation between local travel agencies and travel organisations” to launch various tourism popularisation activities.

Speaking on the agreement, Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hala China, said: “We are excited to work together with our partners from Shaanxi as we look to strengthen the exchange and cooperation in the fields of logistics, tourism, aviation and investment between Shaanxi and the UAE. Long considered one of the cradles of Chinese civilisation and one of the important locations on the ancient silk route, Shaanxi does much today that we can learn from and give back to in turn.”

Both Dubai and Shaanxi operate gateway airports to their respective regions – a fact that was highlighted during the event. Between Xi’an Xianyang International Airport – the main airport serving Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi – and Dubai International Airport, two flights are operated six times a week.

With the existing infrastructure already in place, and with Dubai International and Xianyang International handling more than 130 million passengers between them in 2018, as well as significant trade activity, the signatories of this MoU look set to accelerate trade and tourism.

Shaanxi is also seen as a global leader in the push for renewable energy and solar innovation, with geothermal projects in the province underway, as well as various industry-leading renewables companies taking root in and operating out of the province.

The landlocked province in northwest China has also recently made great strides in improving air quality. As part of the ‘China 2020: Air Pollution Plan’, a three-year action plan that looks to tackle the country’s major environmental issues, Xi’an has been identified as a key area that is innovating to overcome air pollution.

The China (Shaanxi)-UAE Economic and Trade Conference drew the participation of a host of high-level delegates and executives from the UAE and Shaanxi, including Mr. Jin Lei, Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Department of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai; Mr. Zhao Xiaoming, Deputy Secretary General of the Shaanxi Provincial Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee and Director of the General Office of the Shaanxi Provincial CPC Committee; Ms. Yao Hongjuan,  Director  of  the  Foreign  Affairs Office of the Shaanxi Provincial  People's Government; and Mr. Xue Hua, President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Shaanxi Sub-council.