NANJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The construction of China-UAE International Trade Center has started in east China's Jiangsu Province.

Construction of the first phase project, with an investment of 45 million U.S. dollars, began Thursday in Huai'an Economic & Technological Development Zone.

Covering 40,000 square meters, the complex is due for topping off in June 2019, and the project is expected to be put into use in the second half of 2019.

The 500-million-U.S. dollar China-UAE International Trade Center, invested by Bin Zayed Group, will include hotels, commercial areas, apartments and industrial parks.

"We hope that Huai'an City and the Bin Zayed Group can strengthen cooperation. The development zone will provide comprehensive services to guarantee the construction of the center," said Zhou Qing, director of the management committee of the development zone.