In July last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Abu Dhabi. The United Arab Emirates and the Republic of China have agreed to deepen their bilateral relations and establish a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Almost a year later, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, visited Beijing. The two parties have signed 16 agreements and memorandums of understanding to strengthen this comprehensive strategic partnership.
The timing of the visit reveals the degree of friendship, coordination, coherence and understanding between the leaders of the two countries. But it is also in tune with the dynamics of these strategic relationships, which have a high degree of particularity and vitality.
Since the establishment of their relationship in November 1984, the United Arab Emirates and China have had a common vision to develop their relations and use their respective capabilities to achieve the objectives, aspirations and interests of both countries and peoples.
These relationships have developed according to an agenda that is unaffected by regional and international variables. Since 2012, the two countries have been engaged in a strategic partnership for relations, which has now become the Global Strategic Partnership in 2018. The long process of cooperation has led to deep partnerships in various areas of development.
It is well known that the UAE has an ambitious strategic vision that targets the highest global competitiveness indicators. Such objectives require deep openness and cooperation with all countries of the world, especially with an economic power that has a huge impact on the global economy like China.
China has an important role and a strong presence not only in the economy and development, but also at all strategic levels. It is strongly linked to the Gulf region, both through energy exports and through joint cooperation with the UAE and the GCC under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The growing strategic cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and China is reflected in reality and numbers before words and joint official statements.
There are more than 200,000 Chinese nationals working and investing in the United Arab Emirates, as well as some 4,000 Chinese companies. An annual trade exchange has exceeded the $50 billion cap. The network of enormous interests is the combination of the two countries and makes them very important strategic partners for each other.
China considers the United Arab Emirates to be “the oasis of development in the Arab world,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping. “China and the UAE have become bosom friends who help and complement each other, and important partners who always communicate and coordinate with each other on regional and international affairs.”
He added, “Our two countries are geographically far apart and different in national conditions. But we are both proud to have an enterprising and creative people who never give up their dreams.”
These close ties and ambitious visions that bring together the two countries, leaders and peoples provide a solid foundation for prosperous relations and a model for strategic partnership between nations.
China is the world’s second largest economy with the world’s largest foreign exchange reserves. Over the past five years, it has achieved the highest GDP growth rate in the world and is the world’s largest exporter.
If we add to this the traditional strategic assets, such as its permanent membership of the Security Council and its great global strategic impact, and its possible transformation into a global pole in a multipolar system, we can understand how the relations between the two countries are in a common interest.
China is moving quickly forward with the Belt and Road initiative, which involves about 70 countries and represents about 65% of the world’s population and about 40% of its domestic production. She raised the slogan of cooperation “win-win. ”
Strengthening strategic relations between the UAE and China is not a search for an alternative or a strategic choice for other relations with other allied countries. It is an expansion of the areas of cooperation and strategic options available to the UAE economy to develop, grow and achieve its ambitious objectives. All relations between the United Arab Emirates and the major powers follow a distinct path, with different objectives and aspirations. There is no conflict or contradiction in her relationships.
Our ambition for the 21st century is great. This ambition requires the search for opportunities and the expansion of the fields of work, development, production and prosperity for the happiness of all peoples, not just those of the UAE.
A state that bears the responsibility for building a model and a beacon of hope in a region where there is a wealth of news of conflict, intrigue and plots, bears the burden of success. It has a responsibility to bring the dream and hope to life in the hearts of tens of millions of people and around the world.
