Dubai - Mubasher: Emaar Properties has unveiled plans to develop the Middle East’s first Chinese town within the retail district of Dubai Creek Harbour near Dubai International Airport and Burj Khalifa.

Emaar has also announced that it is planning to open three dedicated pavilions in three Chinese cities;  Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, according to a company statement.

The Dubai-listed developer is in talks to develop and operate Address branded hotels in key cities in China, Emaar revealed.

“The visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the UAE is historic and will further strengthen UAE-China relations, underpinned by initiatives such as the UAE-China Week announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE vice president,” chairman of Emaar Properties Mohamed Alabbar commented.

Emaar’s announcements came as the first steps in the UAE role in China’s One Belt, One Road’ initiative, which could cover one-third of the world’s population and gross domestic product (GDP).

“The UAE and China share strong bilateral trade and cultural relations, which are bolstered by the presence of over 200,000 Chinese citizens who live in the UAE and the hundreds of thousands of Chinese visitors that the nation welcomes annually,” Alabbar said.