DUBAI, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Essa Kazim received on Sunday visiting Vice Governor of China's central province of Hubei Cao Guangjing and his delegation, said the DIFC Authority in an e-mailed statement.

During the visit, the two parties discussed collaboration opportunities as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, said DIFC.

The initiative, proposed by China in 2013, refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which aim at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road.

"China is a very important market to us at DIFC. The delegation we received from Hubei Province is another chapter in our China-focused efforts and in DIFC's long-standing relationship with the country," Kazim said.

Leading Chinese institutions continue to capitalize on their presence in DIFC to access growth opportunities across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, he noted.

"Hubei Province is very important to this approach because of its strategically economic position alongside the Yangtze River," Kazim concluded.

DIFC is the largest financial free zone in the Middle East.

Chinese top lenders have established their regional headquarters in DIFC, including Bank of China and Agricultural Bank of China.