Strong relations between States are a series of construction and accumulation based on their common strategic interests. This is the case of the growing relations between the UAE and China. President XI Jinping’s historic visit to the UAE is a translation of the strategic relations between the two sides.
The visit came as an important turning point in relations between the two countries. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said the visit “establishes a new phase of fruitful cooperation and promising outlooks.” The cooperation is based on a realistic basis. The UAE currently hosts 200,000 Chinese citizens and 4,000 trading companies. The annual trade volume between the two countries exceeded $50 billion. The UAE is also China’s largest partner in the Arab region, with 23 per cent of the volume of Arab trade with China being acquired by the UAE. In 2016, the number of Chinese tourists to the UAE reached about 880 thousand people. This amount is increasing as a result of the development of relations. China’s top banks have their branches in the UAE. There are 100 flights connecting the two countries weekly. According to China’s Foreign Trade Centre, bilateral trade between the UAE and China is expected to grow to $80 billion over the next two years.
The UAE is China’s largest trading partner in the region. It has promising plans to develop joint cooperation in the framework of China’s Silk Road strategy, a big change in global economic cooperation in the 21st century. The Emirates considers China as an important strategic ally to attain international peace and security. China sees the UAE as one of the most important emerging economic models. It looks at the Emirates as an important player in stabilizing the Middle East. The region is of high interest to China’s strategy and for international peace.
Official visits by the two nations’ representatives and leaders began since Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan visited Beijing in May 1990 at the head of an official delegation. The visit was the first of its kind carried out by a Head of State from the GCC to China. In 2008, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum made an important visit to China. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, made successive visits in 2009, 2012 and 2015. The visits were part of the UAE’s proactive vision about China’s status and position in the balance of international power.
Relations between the UAE and China are an application of the policy of diversifying in the UAE’s foreign policy. This is a powerful point in Emirates’ diplomacy. The UAE adopts an approach of openness to all countries of the world. It seeks building partnerships and strengthening relations to meet the interests of the people. The wise Emirati leadership aims to empower international relations.
The position of China as the world’s second-most powerful economy and the aspirations of the countries’ leaders made the visit a historic event and a strategic development in relations between the two sides.
