UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum received here today, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and the delegation accompanying him. Sheikh Mohammad welcomed Wen Jiabao and described his visit to the UAE as a "historic milestone that reflects the deep-rooted ties between the leadership and peoples of the two countries." He praised the efforts of the Chinese companies based in the UAE, as well as members of the Chinese community who are actively contributing to the development and progress of the UAE. For his part, Wen Jiabao said he was pleased to visit the UAE and meet the officials here. He added that his country attaches great importance to its relations with the UAE, which are based on mutual respect and the desire to build a true strategic partnership. Sheikh Mohammad and Jiabao also attended a ceremony during which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Visa-Waiver was signed. Under this, holders of diplomatic and special passports are exempted from visa requirement to enter the two countries. The two countries also signed a second MoU on cooperation in the fields of sports, according to a report of the UAE news agency "WAM". Sheikh Mohammad and Jiabao viewed a model of the ambitious AED 2 billion Phoenix development project, a Chinese commercial center which entails an integrated residential complex, a five-star hotel, a commercial zone and world-class service facilities.
