ABU DHABI, 4 Dec, 04 (WAM) - China's largest trade fair in the MiddleEast, the Chinese Commodities Fair Sharjah (CCFS) 2004, was inauguratedtoday at Expo Centre Sharjah by Sheikh Sultanbin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah,and Yu Ping, Vice Chairman, China Council for the promotion of internationaltrade.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa- Chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Mr. MohammedSalem Al Mosharrekh - Board Member (SCCI), Fasahat Ali Khan - ActingDirector General of Expo Centre Sharjah, members of a high ranking delegationfrom China, directors of various government departments, and members ofthe diplomatic corps and trade associations, according to a press release.

"The CCFS, now in its third edition, is an established and highly effectiveplatform for Chinese companies that are keen to establish their footholdin the region," said Mr. Midfa after the opening ceremony.

"For companies based in the Middle East and wanting to join hands withChinese enterprises, the CCFS is the most comprehensive offering of Chineseproducts and services under a single umbrella. The CCFS has so far playeda vital role in boosting bilateral relations between the UAE and China,"he added.

The five-day solo country event, sponsored by the People's Republic ofChina's Ministry of Commerce, and organised by Chinamex and Expo CentreSharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry(SCCI), is hosting over 600 reputed Chinese enterprises. These companiesare from over 30 provinces, cities and self-administrative regions ofChina and represent a wide range of industries including machinery, engineering,electrical, light industry equipment, textile, and building material amongothers.

To commence along with the CCFS, but at a different venue, is a dedicatedyear-long trade event showcasing Chinese medium and small sized packingand plastic machinery.

The China Packing and Plastic Machinery Long-Term Fair will be held atthe China Machinery and Electronic Products Exhibition Centre in Sharjahfrom December 4, 2004 - December 3, 2005. The exhibition is being organisedby Chinamex and sponsored by the People's Republic of China's Ministryof Commerce, and the SCCI.

Back at Expo Centre Sharjah, the Hong Kong pavilion at the CCFS, hostto over 80 companies exhibiting a wide range of products and services,is bound to be a major attraction for both trade visitors and the generalpublic.

This year's CCFS showcases a wide range of product categories includingvehicles and accessories, hardware and tools, machine tools and parts,household electrical apparatus, electronic and information products, foodstuff,daily commodities, utensil and kitchen items, garment, household textileand yarn, light and decoration items, building materials and pottery,household furniture, petro-chemical products, equipment, instruments,and meters, and foreign investment projects and capital attraction projects.

Though trade between UAE and China is growing steadily at present, itis but a fact that the latter enjoys a share of less than US $ 25 billion,or about 5 % of the Gulf region's trade volume.

The CCFS is the region's single largest platform that is aimed at furtheringtrade relations between China and the GCC states in general and the UAEin particular.

The interest of Middle East-based companies in Chinese products and servicescan be gauged from the fact that the total number of visitors registeredduring the last two editions of CCFS exceeded 93,000. This included over19,000 trade visitors from 64 countries. The total transactions duringthese two sessions amounted to US $ 950.61 million.

Till the end of 2003, the number of Chinese enterprises registered inthe UAE crossed 350 with investments totaling US $ 50.1 million.

As far as bilateral trade between UAE and China is concerned, the amounttouched US $ 5.8 billion in 2003.

Till August 2004, trade between the two countries amounted to US $ 5.1billion. During this period, China exported goods worth US $ 4.43 billionto the UAE, registering an increase of 45.5 %.

"The people of China and the UAE have a long history of trade and cordialrelationship. The Silk Road established a thousand years ago as well asthe present trade platform is vital for promoting bilateral economic cooperation