BEIJING // Ties between the UAE and China are set to strengthen as the countries expand links in areas other than the oil industry, senior officials have said.
Economic co-operation in fields such as energy and telecommunications will deepen political links that have existed for more than a quarter of a century, a China-UAE forum in Beijing heard yesterday.
The comments came as the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, met his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, at the start of a two-day visit to China.
In a speech to the China-UAE Economic Forum yesterday, Li Jinjun, a vice minister in the international department of the communist party's central committee, said the two countries enjoyed "a long-term friendship".
Diplomatic ties date back to 1984, and the UAE opened an embassy in Beijing in 1987. The UAE also has consulates in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Mr Li promised China would continue to pursue a foreign policy of "no intervention in internal affairs", even as its trade and other ties overseas grew.
China "very much appreciates" the support given by the UAE when an earthquake struck Sichuan province in 2008, according to Mr Li. The Emirates gave US$50 million (Dh184m) to finance reconstruction after the disaster, which killed more than 68,000 people.
Mr Li said China was keen to see "more co-operation in sectors other than the oil sector".
The UAE-China relationship differs from some other Gulf-China bilateral ties in that it already has significant ties not linked to energy. The UAE is China's largest export market in the Gulf, with Dh49bn worth of Chinese goods arriving last year.
Chinese firms are also active in construction, securing $4.8bn worth of contracts in the UAE in the past two years. Etisalat mobile phones have been manufactured in China, while high-speed communications networks in the Emirates have been installed by companies from China.
There are more than 1,000 Chinese firms operating in the UAE, and Mr Li said Beijing wanted this number to grow.
"We will be very supportive in terms of regulations and other facilities to promote the Chinese enterprises and industries in establishing branch companies overseas, including in the UAE," he said.
Yesterday's forum was the latest in a series of UAE-China events.
In May, an Abu Dhabi and China Economic Forum was held in Shanghai, not long after the opening of the Shanghai Expo, where the UAE pavilion has been a major attraction.
Also this year, the Court of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, is paying for the $2.8m refurbishment of an Arabic teaching centre at a Beijing university. The centre, which was funded by and named after the UAE when it first opened, is being renamed The Sheikh Zayed Centre for Islamic and Arabic Studies.
China has taken an interest in the UAE's dispute with Iran over Upper and Lesser Tunbs. Last month, Chinese parliamentary leaders asked the UAE to present its case during a planned visit to China by members of the Federal National Council next year.
Ties are aided by "very similar ways of thinking" between the two nations, according to Khalid al Ghaith, an assistant minister in the UAE Department of Economic Affairs.
Delivering a keynote speech, Mr al Ghaith said he was keen to see not just UAE investment in China, or Chinese investment in the UAE, but also the countries joining to develop projects in third countries.
But he added China itself afforded vast opportunities in sectors such as energy, tourism, telecommunications and finance.
"We also want to enhance co-operation with China in the education and training sectors, and the first Chinese school in Abu Dhabi opened this year," he said.
Mr al Ghaith praised China's "brilliant leadership" and the country's continued economic growth during the global economic crisis.
The UAE and China can date ties to the silk road, said Chen Jingxian, vice president of the China Economic Co-operation Centre.
"I do not see any reason why the relationship between the two countries will not develop further," he said.
Among the UAE enterprises attending yesterday's meeting were Mubadala, Union Railway, DP World and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. They were joined by Chinese construction, energy, media and aerospace companies.
A recent report by the Washington-based think-tank the Jamestown Foundation predicted China-GCC ties in energy and trade would "continue to flourish", especially as China's oil demand grows. However, analysts said China was unlikely to develop a significant military presence in the Gulf region.
dbardsley@thenational.ae
SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Wimbledon order of play on Saturday, July 8
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Centre Court (4pm)
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Timea Bacsinszky (19)
Ernests Gulbis v Novak Djokovic (2)
Mischa Zverev (27) v Roger Federer (3)
Court 1 (4pm)
Milos Raonic (6) v Albert Ramos-Vinolas (25)
Anett Kontaveit v Caroline Wozniacki (5)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Jared Donaldson
Court 2 (2.30pm)
Sorana Cirstea v Garbine Muguruza (14)
To finish: Sam Querrey (24) leads Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 6-5
Angelique Kerber (1) v Shelby Rogers
Sebastian Ofner v Alexander Zverev (10)
Court 3 (2.30pm)
Grigor Dimitrov (13) v Dudi Sela
Alison Riske v Coco Vandeweghe (24)
David Ferrer v Tomas Berdych (11)
Court 12 (2.30pm)
Polona Hercog v Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Gael Monfils (15) v Adrian Mannarino
Court 18 (2.30pm)
Magdalena Rybarikova v Lesia Tsurenko
Petra Martic v Zarina Diyas
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Challenge Cup result:
1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
All about the Sevens
Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed