HAIKOU, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Amid the lush mountains of south China's Hainan, a traditional Chinese scent is quietly fueling an unexpected economic partnership with the Middle East.

Recently, trade delegations from the UAE and Saudi Arabia visited a local agarwood plantation, delving into cultivation methods and sampling aromatic products. Before leaving, they joined Yang Ziwen, president of Hainan Daguan Chenxiang Industrial Development Co., Ltd., in planting agarwood saplings, a symbolic step toward a deepening collaboration.

Dubbed as the "king of fragrances" in China, agarwood, also known as eaglewood, has been used for centuries in perfumes, medicine and crafts. It also holds cultural significance in Arab societies, where it is commonly used in social gatherings and daily life.

Last April, Daguan's dragon-pattern incense coil won the top award at the China-Arab Incense Culture Exchange Forum in Dubai, drawing immediate business interest.

"When we lit the coils, guests were captivated by the unique scent," said Yang. Over 20 delegations from the Middle East have since visited the company. With a new processing plant set to be launched in October, Daguan plans to sign trade agreements with partners in the region.

Innovation is accelerating this cross-border exchange, as new agarwood varieties developed by the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences have cut harvest time from around ten years to just three to four.

Connectivity is also improving, with direct flights now linking Haikou, capital of Hainan, to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Visa-free policies for Chinese citizens visiting the UAE and Qatar also help to foster deeper exchanges.

In May, the Hainan Eaglewood Association led a trade mission to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and a China-Arab agarwood trading company has been set up in Dubai. Luxury counters in the city now display Hainan agarwood oil, incense and tea.

Arab markets have strong demand and cultural affinity for agarwood, said Zeng Qingzhu, head of the agarwood association.

As Chinese producers tailor products to Arab preferences and explore sustainable sourcing, even discussing desert cultivation, this ancient fragrance is fostering a modern partnership, Yang said.

Razeem Hassan Bin Rayees, a UAE-based dealer, praised Hainan's agarwood after his visit. "The quality is exceptional. My business partners all love it," he said. ■