Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed to begin state visit to China

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi will meet president Xi Jinping and senior Chinese officials to discuss opportunities to expand trade, economic, social and cultural exchanges.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, inspects an honour guard in Beijing during his 2012 visit, accompanied by vice president Xi JinpiShow more

ABU DHABI // Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, will begin a three-day official visit to China on Sunday.

He will meet president Xi Jinping and senior Chinese officials to discuss opportunities to expand trade, economic, social and cultural exchanges.

Industrial and investment relationships are also expected to be on the agenda along with fighting terrorism and stability in the Middle East.

“There is a whole lot to talk about,” said Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, political science professor at UAE University. “This is a good occasion to try to change the Chinese perspective on the Syrian crisis, hoping that China somehow recognises that keeping [Syrian president] Assad and defending him also means keeping and defending ISIL.”

Others said that the UAE played an important economic role for China, acting as a bridge to Middle Eastern and African markets.

“The UAE is keen to develop a deeper partnership with China, soon to become the world’s biggest economy,” said Sabahat Khan, senior analyst at the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, a Dubai think tank. “The UAE-China relationship is interesting because both are wealthy countries with development-focused agendas. Both are keen to preserve international stability – politically, economically and financially.”

He believed issues such as the problems in Syria, the Iranian nuclear deal, falling oil prices and global economic growth would also be discussed.

“These meetings will provide a vital opportunity for developing a better understanding of national perspectives and positions, and identifying areas to enhance cooperation,” he said.

“The International Monetary Fund recently inducted the Chinese yuan into its benchmark reserve currency basket, cementing the country’s status as a global economic power – but China wants a global financial system that breaks the monopoly of the US dollar, which is inevitable.”

He said such issues were crucial for the Gulf region in the long term.

“The Chinese are setting up massive funds for international development and are financing a new silk route connecting almost 60 countries,” Mr Khan said. “So China signals opportunity for the UAE, and vice versa, across many shared long-term economic and development goals.”

China also has vested interests in the Middle East, namely oil imports and energy. A research paper on China and the Middle East by Chatham House in October stated that “instability in the Gulf, which supplies half of China’s imports, is a constant concern for Beijing”.

“Increasing oil imports, combined with Beijing’s ambitious foreign policy designs, are paving the way for a deeper commercial and diplomatic engagement,” it said.

Analysts said the UAE was also adopting new approaches to its foreign policy in the region, playing a vital role in the Middle East and creating links with major world powers.

Dr Mohammed bin Huwaidin, UAE University political science chairman, believed as the UAE upgraded itself to the level of a major regional player it would need to coordinate its policy with an international player such as China, which has a great interest in this region.

He said China had repeatedly maintained that its peaceful rise would depend on securing energy from around the world, particularly from the Gulf.

“It is important for their economic development as it provides them with a substantial amount of oil and energy.”