Mohammed bin Rashid: Economic cooperation adds strategic dimension to UAE-China partnership

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, held a wide-ranging session with the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Work of the Belt Forum and the Road to International Cooperation.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stressed the UAE's keenness, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. With the friendly People's Republic of China, and expand the scope of constructive cooperation at various levels in the light of the political will of the two countries to move forward with further ideas in support of the strategic partnership between the two countries, confirmed during President Xi Jinping's historic visit to the UAE last year , Which represented a point A new launch of the partnership between the two countries, especially at the economic level, which is an important pillar of bilateral relations.

"Economic cooperation adds a strategic dimension to the UAE-China partnership and the historical relations between the two countries. We are keen to expand this partnership with China's friend. We look forward to more opportunities for cooperation at both the private and public levels," he said. "We have ambitious visions for future joint action. Cooperation between the two countries to new horizons in various fields ».

His Highness stressed that the close relations and the existing strategic partnership with China, with all its great cultural and economic components, supports the UAE's direction towards the future and enhances the potential of joint action to create conditions to serve the aspirations of the two sides to achieve qualitative development achievements that affirm the leadership of the two friendly peoples. Reasons for progress in various areas.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: "China is a great country with a long history of civilization. It is the first trading partner of our country in the last five years and we look forward to raising bilateral trade volume to 70 billion dollars by 2020. The development of the two countries, facilitate the climate to reach new development horizons, and open the way to unlimited successes, the common will to expand the circle of cooperation a strong foundation we proceed together to achieve our strategic objectives for the future.

The two sides agreed on the importance of working to raise the level of cooperation in the field of tourism, while the UAE-China relations are witnessing remarkable development. In 2018, the UAE visited more than 850,000 Chinese tourists.

The meeting discussed the prospects of expanding cooperation in the private sector, taking advantage of the supportive environment provided by the UAE for global investments, including a strong and highly reliable infrastructure and world-class air and sea ports that facilitate access to the region's vast markets. When the number of Chinese companies based in the UAE, based in the regional region, to more than 4000 companies.

The UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai expressed his appreciation for the "Belt and Road" initiative as a qualitative initiative that paves the way for a new phase of global economic cooperation based on openness, pluralism and opportunity sharing. The initiative, based on its position as a main and essential station, and a central point of access to the markets of the region and the continent of Africa, and the positive results that can result in the large geographical scope covered by the Chinese initiative, and all the new dimensions to enhance trade exchange, tourism and culture Among the participating States.

"China's scientific and technological progress is an incentive to increase the exchange of expertise to build human and technical capabilities and capabilities," he said. "Cooperation in building human beings and enhancing their capabilities The most important forms of investment, which we seek to expand the circle of partnership with the world, to consolidate its foundations and raise the ceiling of its desired outcome ».

For his part, President Xi Jinping welcomed the visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his accompanying delegation to the People's Republic of China and His Highness's participation in the second session of the Forum of the Belt and Road for International Cooperation. In forging ties of friendship and cooperation between his country and the UAE, which China is a strategic partner in the region.

The Chinese President expressed his appreciation for the pioneering role of the UAE under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, at the regional and international levels, and its contribution to promoting international cooperation and its keenness to provide bridges of communication with the peoples of the world. The UAE is committed to the UAE's role in spreading the spirit of tolerance and cooperation as an important foundation to enable the peoples of the world to overcome the common challenges facing the world.

The talks dealt with all the UAE-China relations and means of boosting them and enhancing the level of bilateral cooperation to new levels that add new strategic dimensions to the historical ties that have long been brought together between the two countries and the two friendly peoples. Within its various political and economic tracks, by working to discover more opportunities for integration and continue to encourage the private sector in the UAE and China to monitor and activate more opportunities for increased cooperation, especially in terms of investment and exchange Yen trading and tourism.

Mutual investments

The exchange between the UAE and China is flourishing in many specific areas, including port operation, economic zone development, manufacturing, petrochemicals, oil and gas, technology and hospitality, tourism, real estate, wholesale and retail trade, financial services and others. In the areas of innovation, technology, scientific research, advanced industries, artificial intelligence, small and medium enterprises, and other pathways for the future.

China is the UAE's first trading partner. Total non-oil trade in 2017 reached more than US $ 53.3 billion with growth of 15%, while UAE accounted for 30% of China's exports to Arab countries and 22% Arab-Chinese trade during 2017, and the number of Chinese companies operating in the country, until that year, more than 4000 companies including free zone companies, in addition to about 300 commercial agencies and 5000 brands.