The Chinese community in the UAE welcomed the Year of the Monkey last night at the International City.
Traditional red lanterns lit the embryonic Chinatown within the city that is under construction.
Chinese ambassador to UAE Zhang Zhijun greeted the Chinese community at the new Chinese consulate premises in Dubais Um Suqueim district on Wednesday night. Yang Weigo, the Chinese consul-general in Dubai, hosted a group of community members in the compound with traditional Chinese dishes.
There are about 40,000 Chinese nationals in the UAE. Many of them are traders while an increasing number of Chinese workers are in the service industries.
The Chinese Lunar New Year is the longest chronological record in history, dating from 2,600 BC.
Being built by Al Nakheel as part of the International City on the Dubai-Hatta Road, the Dubai Chinatown will feature shops, residence villas, entertainment centre, restaurants and a clinic offering oriental medicine, among other facilities. Chinatown is in final development stage and is set to be opened this year or next.
Gulf News
