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Abu Dhabi-Beijing flight to boost trade, tourism and investment

Business opportunities between the UAE and China will be boosted from March 30 when Etihad begins its four-flights-per-week service to the Chinese capital from the UAE's capital, offering a total passenger capacity of more than 2,000 seats every week.

The UAE is now China's second largest trade partner in the Gulf region and the largest market for Chinese exports. The value of Chinese exports to the UAE increased by 50 per cent in 2007 to Dh62.4 billion, with an increase of 7.7 per cent in the amount of UAE goods being exported to China to Dh11 billion.

The UAE is home to nearly 200,000 Chinese people and more than 2,000 Chinese companies. The volume of trade between the UAE and China, acknowledged to be the world's fastest growing economy, reached Dh74.9 billion in 2007, a huge increase of 41.2 per cent on the previous year.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive, said: "China and the UAE are both experiencing massive economic expansion and Etihad Airways is extremely excited at the prospect of helping to strengthen trade ties between the two nations."

"There is a huge appetite from business and leisure travellers for flights to Beijing, especially ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games later this year, and our forward bookings are already ahead of our expectations."