UAE-China ties pave the way for an even brighter future: Envoy

Dr Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the People's Republic of China, said that the UAE and China will continue to extend areas of cooperation using the Belt and Road Initiative, BRI, as a key platform, to increase joint contribution to mutual prosperity.

In an Op-Ed written for Global Times on the occasion of the UAE's 49th National Day, Dr. Ali Al Dhaheri said: ''The UAE's partnership with China and engagement in the Belt and Road Initiative, BRI, have been prominent features of the UAE's progress in recent years.''

On this UAE National Day, he noted, there is much satisfaction with the progress that has been achieved in recent years, with both our nations' development and with China-UAE bilateral relations. ''There is also an expectation that much more can be achieved in the years ahead for realising bright futures for our two countries.''

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The Op-Ed reads: "2020 has proven to be a uniquely tumultuous year, with the COVID-19 outbreak bringing unprecedented challenges for human health, economic performance, and global stability. Despite these ongoing barriers, the United Arab Emirates, UAE, has worked energetically to strengthen its economic and international footprint; celebrating its rich history and looking optimistically to the future.

"The UAE's partnership with China and engagement in the Belt and Road Initiative, BRI, have been prominent features of the UAE's progress in recent years.

Dr Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the People's Republic of China.

"On December 2, the UAE celebrates its 49th National Day – showcasing our country's vitality and success. Since the founding of the UAE in 1971, our country has flourished. Our economic output has grown more than eight times over since the 1990s, and GDP per capita has exceeded $40,000.

"Next year, the UAE will celebrate our 50th anniversary; our golden jubilee. The UAE and China will also mark the 37th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. President Xi Jinping's 2018 state visit to the UAE and the visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to China in 2019 helped to usher in a golden age for bilateral relations.

"With President Xi's fruitful 2018 state visit, our two countries upgraded bilateral relations, forging a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. The scope of this partnership has since grown to encompass cooperation in areas such as climate change, innovation and technology, food security, energy security, financial services, education, and international humanitarian assistance. There have been more frequent cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

The UAE has long valued and prioritised its cooperation with China. The UAE was among the first to join the BRI, and now serves as a key regional logistics and connectivity hub in the Middle East. The UAE has become an important gateway for China to enter West Asia and North Africa. More than 60 per cent of China's trade in this region now transits through the UAE.

In 2017, the UAE Strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution articulated our nation's vision to use technological innovation as a pathway to prosperity. Based on this strategy, the UAE is quickly building its digital economy, creating more foreign investment opportunities and strengthening economic security by adopting cutting-edge fintech solutions. The UAE has also launched Vision 2021, which will see the UAE develop a more sustainable and diversified economy within the next year.

Coordination on COVID-19

When faced with the COVID-19 outbreak, our countries extended much needed cooperation in medicine and healthcare, with particular focus on vaccine research and development. 31,000 Emirati volunteers participated in clinical trials, supporting innovative medical solutions to this deadly virus. On November 3, several Emirati government officials, including His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, were vaccinated with a newly prepared COVID-19 vaccine produced by the Chinese firm Sinopharm.

Moving forward, the UAE and China will continue to extend our areas of cooperation. With the BRI as a key platform, our countries will eagerly increase joint contributions to mutual prosperity.

On this UAE National Day, there is much satisfaction with the progress that has been achieved in recent years, with both our nations' development and with China-UAE bilateral relations. There is also an expectation that much more can be achieved in the years ahead for realising bright futures for our two countries.''