Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed paid tribute to the UAE's "deep friendship" with China as the Asian country celebrated its 71st National Day on Thursday. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces sent a congratulatory message to China's President Xi Jinping in honour of the occasion. China and the UAE have strengthened diplomatic and commercial ties in recent years. The Emirates is an integral part of Mr Xi's Belt and Road initiative, combining a land "economic belt" and a "maritime silk road" to link China with South-East, South and Central Asia, the Arabian Gulf, North Africa, and Europe. "Congratulations to my friend, President Xi Jinping and to the people of China, on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the People's Republic of China," Sheikh Mohamed tweeted on Thursday. "Our countries share a deep friendship and a comprehensive strategic partnership, grounded by our shared objectives of prosperity." The Crown Prince paid a three-day visit to Beijing in July of last year to help further cultivate relations between the nations. Sheikh Mohamed was welcomed at the Great Hall of the People as a 21-gun salute was fired to mark the start of the landmark tour. He returned to the Emirates as an honorary professor of one of China's prestigious universities. He received the title from Tsinghua University in Beijing as a recognition of his support for science and technology. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, visited the Chinese capital in April of last year to take part in a global summit on the flagship Belt and Road initiative. Mr Xi toured the UAE in July, 2018 as part of ongoing efforts to build links between the Middle East and the Far East. The UAE leadership bestowed the Order of Zayed on the Chinese leader during high-level meetings at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi. In a further demonstration of a growing international friendship, the first Chinese-curriculum school to open outside China was inaugurated in Dubai last month. Chinese School Dubai was opened in a physically distanced ceremony by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. The non-profit school, in Mirdif, will receive financial support from the Chinese government. China and the UAE have also worked closely on the fight against Covid-19. The UAE was the main vaccine trial partner for Chinese drug maker Sinopharm, providing thousands of volunteers for a Phase III trial. A number of government officials <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/coronavirus-uae-health-minister-takes-country-s-first-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-1.1079925">including the Minister of Health</a> have received an early approved version. Ali Obaid Ali Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to China, lauded the strong ties between the countries in several sectors and commended their willingness to come together to combat the pandemic. "Different forms of material and moral support were provided to China by the UAE’s leadership and people, which was also an opportunity to enhance the co-operation between the two countries to include scientific research in the area of health, especially with regards to the clinical coronavirus vaccine trials," said the envoy.
