China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are willing to enhance cooperation in information technology (IT), said the two countries' officials in Beijing Wednesday.

In a meeting with UAE Minister of Communications Ahmed Humaid Tayer, Chinese Minister of Information Industry Wang Xudong said China and the UAE have a sound foundation for cooperation.

The two countries' trade exchanges date back to the 1950s. After the establishment of diplomatic relations in the 1980s, the bilateral cooperative ties grew even closer.

China is willing to enhance cooperation with the UAE in the IT field based on equality and mutual benefit, Wang said.

He said China attaches importance to its IT development, and pays attention to enhancing international cooperation.

Many renowned IT multi-national corporations have set up enterprises in China. At present, China also has a number of powerful enterprises, Wang said.

The UAE is rich in resources and has great economic power. China welcomes the UAE to invest in China, Wang said.

Tayer said the UAE is the financial and commercial center of the Middle East. Many European and American countries consider the UAE as a center to conduct business with its surrounding countries.

At present, the UAE has a great number of European, American and Chinese IT enterprises, Tayer said, adding that the Chinese enterprises are competitive with the European and American enterprises both in terms of quality and price.

He said the UAE values its cooperation with China, and will provide convenience for the Chinese companies to conduct business in the UAE and its surrounding countries. He hoped the UAE companies will popularize business in China.

"I believe this cooperation meets the common interest of the two countries," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2004)