The Sheikh
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cultural Centre and Mosque in Wuzhong city, Ningxia autonomous province, China, has been officially opened, WAM, the Emirates News Agency said.
At the ceremony Professor Zhou Yu Dong, Deputy Ruler of Ningxia, thanked the UAE, led by President
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for the donation to
build the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cultural Centre and a mosque
in province, pointing out that the project would contribute towards
achieving stability and ensuring settlement of the region's displaced
inhabitants, who are minority Muslims.
He also highlighted the level of the Chinese-UAE bilateral
relations, extending an open invitation to the Emiratis to exchange
visits and cooperate with Ningxia. He said that Ningxia, as per the strategy of the
Chinese government, is deemed an important gateway for cooperation with
Arab and Islamic countries.
In response, Omar Ahmed Adi Nasib Al Bitar, UAE Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, extended thanks to the Ningxia government
for cooperation with the UAE citizens to contribute in providing for
humanitarian projects in the province, stressing the UAE's keenness on
enhancing cooperation in all domains with China in general and Ningxia
in particular.
The mosque, which will provide services to Ningxia Muslims in
particular and China in general, will accommodate more than 1,200 male
and 300 female worshippers, school classrooms, housing apartments and
other services. The construction of the mosque was completed in a record
time of under nine months.
Dubai's Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai (IACAD) separately took delivery of the Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque at Safa (1) District, WAM added.
Mohammed Saeed Al Muhairi, Head of Mosque Affairs Committee, IACAD, said the mosque, built at the expense of Abdullah Rashid Al Suwaidi, will accommodate 630 including a prayer corner which can accommodate 97 ladies.