UAE and China Strengthen Bilateral Ties in Official Visit
In a significant diplomatic encounter, His Excellency Saqr Ghobash, President of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates, met with Mr. Cheng Jiangmiao, Deputy Director and Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party for the People's Municipality of Shanghai. This meeting took place as part of His Excellency Ghobash's official visit to the People's Republic of China, leading a delegation from the National Council, in response to an invitation from the Permanent Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress.
During the meeting, both leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing existing cooperation between the two nations across various domains. They stressed the significance of exchanging information and experiences, reflecting the aspirations of both friendly countries and their remarkable developments on numerous fronts.
His Excellency Saqr Ghobash underscored the depth of the bilateral relations between the United Arab Emirates and the People's Republic of China. Notably, 2024 marks the celebration of 40 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, established in 1984. He highlighted the mutual commitment to expanding these relations in various areas, particularly in politics, parliamentary affairs, economics, culture, education, investment, and vital sectors. These efforts aim to broaden the partnership further in light of the strategic agreement signed between the two nations on November 17, 2012, to boost bilateral relations in diverse fields.
Saqr Ghobash stated, "The comprehensive partnership between the UAE and the People's Republic of China, as well as cooperation between the two nations, continues to grow steadily, particularly in sectors that form the basis of sustainable development and international economic competitiveness, such as artificial intelligence, advanced technology, healthcare, climate, and environmental protection. He also praised the evolution of this relationship into agreements between Chinese and Emirati cities."
He further highlighted the UAE's declaration of 2023 as the "Year of Sustainability." This initiative aims to showcase the nation's efforts in promoting collective and international action to address sustainability challenges and innovative solutions, particularly in energy, climate change, and other critical areas. Saqr Ghobash also mentioned the UAE's ambition to host the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28), scheduled to be held from November 30 to December 12, 2023, in Dubai Expo.
Cheng Jiangmiao warmly welcomed Saqr Ghobash and the accompanying delegation to Shanghai, emphasizing the importance of this visit and the meetings held with senior officials in the People's Republic of China. He stated that the historical and enduring friendship between the two nations and their people grows stronger due to the true and intimate nature of the relationship, transcending distance, and flourishing through continuous communication between their leadership and officials. Cheng Jiangmiao also commended the partnership between Shanghai and Dubai, citing Dubai Expo and the Shanghai Expo as pivotal moments in this relationship. He noted that Shanghai has witnessed significant development, solidifying its position as one of China's largest cities.
Cheng Jiangmiao underscored the importance of the visit by the Federal National Council to the People's Republic of China. He highlighted how mutual visits contribute to parliamentary cooperation, knowledge exchange, and experiences that benefit both friendly countries, especially in light of significant global developments and challenges. This requires unity in positions and shared objectives on various matters of common interest.