China-UAE Relationship At Its Best In History: Chinese Envoy
Muhammad Irfan Published July 19, 2019 | 06:15 PM
by Binsal Abdulkader ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Jul, 2019) China and the UAE are enjoying their "best period" in history now while celebrating a milestone in their relationship, according to a top Chinese diplomat.
"This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE. Our relationship is currently at its best period in history," Ni Jian, the Chinese Ambassador to the UAE, told the Emirates news Agency, WAM, in an exclusive interview.
Among all middle East countries, the UAE has the deepest, broadest and most fruitful cooperation with China, he said.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, will be on a state visit to China next week, almost one year after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s successful visit to the UAE.
"The exchange of visits between our top leaderships within a year is testimony to the high standards and special significance of China-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, thus marking a milestone in the development of our bilateral relationship," he explained.
"The upcoming visit by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed is expected to consolidate and deepen our political and strategic mutual trust, and elevate our political, military, commercial, cultural, people-to-people and technological cooperation across the board," the ambassador said.
It will further substantiate the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to open "a glorious new chapter of China-UAE friendship," he said.
The ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping synergises with the "Restore the Silk Road" vision proposed by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the envoy said.
"Jointly building the Belt and Road is in line with the UAE’s interests and brings opportunities and momentum to our respective development. As an important regional transport hub and financial and trade centre, the UAE has a pivotal role to play to extend China’s cooperation with the Gulf and Middle East States and facilitate interconnectivity," he explained.
About the thriving cultural and people-to-people exchanges, the diplomat said, over 1.1 million Chinese tourists had visited the UAE in 2018, thanks to the mutual visa-exemption arrangement between both nations.
"There are over 150 commercial flights every week connecting different cities in our countries," he added.
The educational exchanges are burgeoning under 'The UAE Youth Ambassadors Programme' that facilitates Emirati students’ visit to China, and China Scholarship Council’s Memorandum of Understanding with Khalifa University that brings "more and more Chinese students" to pursue their higher education in the UAE, the ambassador explained.
Confucius Institutes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, an ongoing initiative to teach Chinese in 200 UAE schools and frequent visits of Chinese artist groups to the UAE have also enhanced cultural and educational relations.
"Our plan to open a Chinese Cultural Centre in the UAE is in progress," the envoy said.
The UAE hosts the largest Chinese community in the Middle East. Of over 200,000-strong Chinese community in the UAE, most of them live in Dubai and Sharjah. Around 50 community organisations cater to the community members from all walks of life.
"They have forged a profound friendship with locals, and made great contributions to the UAE’s economic development with their perseverance and pioneering spirit," the ambassador said.
About the regional developments, he said, "China is concerned over the tensions in the Gulf region. We hope relevant parties will remain calm, exercise restraint, take concrete measures to prevent escalation, and jointly uphold maritime safety and security in relevant straits, as well as peace and stability in the region."
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and an influential major country, China has all along maintained communication and coordination with countries in the region and other major countries to ease tensions in the Gulf region, Jian said.
The Gulf region is of great significance to international energy supply and global security and stability, he pointed out.
"We are working to play our role and contribute to upholding peace and stability in the Gulf region," he said.
China regrets Iran's decision to further scale back its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA, the envoy said.
"It is our consistent belief that complete and effective implementation of the JCPOA according to the requirements of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions, UNSCR, is the only viable way to ease tensions and solve the Iranian nuclear issue. It will also help create conditions for resolving other issues through equal-footed dialogue," the diplomat explained.
"Under the current circumstances, parties should remain calm and exercise restraint and adhere to dialogue under the framework of the JCPOA. The international community must adhere to multilateralism and the international order based on international law, and seek political and diplomatic solutions to relevant issues through equal-footed dialogue," he said.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
3 Gawadar attack victims funeral offered
Mbappe says he will leave PSG at end of season
Usmani felicitates Sardar Saleem on taking oath as Punjab Governor
DC for provision of facilities to people in Lasbela
Solar storm could bring auroras, power and telecoms disruptions
Court grants interim bail to PTI leaders
Ulema, Mashaykh call for political accountability, collaboration for Pakistan's ..
SHRC asks NADRA to issue CNICs to transgender as per law
Flash floods kill 50 in one day in north Afghanistan
CDA chief expresses commitment to promoting modern-day technologies
By wide margin, UN General Assembly votes to back Palestinian bid for membership ..
Musadik slams PTI's political approach as provocative
More Stories From Middle East
-
UAE announces ‘Zero Bureaucracy Program’ to reduce bureaucracy
3 months ago -
COP28 President-Designate welcomes Transitional Committee agreement to operationalise Loss and Damag ..
6 months ago -
Global Media Congress 2023 to feature Co-Production Majlis as a new networking platform
6 months ago -
Young female athletes shine at Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship
6 months ago -
King of Jordan receives Abdullah bin Zayed and ministers participating in Arab coordination meeting
6 months ago -
Abdullah bin Zayed participates in coordination meeting of Arab foreign ministers, joint meeting wit ..
6 months ago
-
3rd annual conference of Emirates Society of Clinical Microbiology kicks off in Dubai
6 months ago -
SIBF 2023 hosts Nobel laureate to discuss emergence of ‘Afrofuturism’ in global discourse
6 months ago -
ALC announces winners of Kanz Al Jeel Award 2023
6 months ago -
SIBF turns spotlight on remarkable contributions of women
6 months ago -
Global assets in spot bitcoin ETFs hit $4.16 billion
6 months ago -
Rescuers struggle to find Nepal quake survivors as deaths reach 157
6 months ago