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Official: UAE seeks further development of strategic partnership with China

Xinhua, December 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) values its ties with China and looks to further develop the bilateral strategic partnership, a senior UAE official said here on Wednesday.

The UAE and China share common goals in promoting regional and global prosperity and stability, said Sultan Bin Ahmed Sultan Al-Jaber, minister of state and chairman of the UAE Board of the National Media Council.

China can count on the UAE as a reliable regional partner in advancing the "Belt and Road initiative," Al-Jaber told a joint press conference with Chinese Ambassador Chang Hua ahead of an official visit to China by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

"We see our relationship with China as a strategic one, built upon the foundations of respect, trust, and equality," said Al-Jaber.

The "Belt and Road initiative," short for the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013. It aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.

The UAE appreciates and supports China's "Belt and Road initiative" and relevant measures, supports the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Al-Jaber said, noting that the UAE has become a founding member of the China-backed multilateral development institution.

He said the UAE would work with China to make the crown prince's Dec. 13-16 visit a success and to bring the bilateral strategic partnership to a new high for the benefit of both countries and both peoples.

Chang, the Chinese ambassador, said the visit comes at a crucial time when both countries are trying to manage challenges, to promote a sustained development of the bilateral strategic partnership, and to work for more achievements in implementing the "Belt and Road initiative."

The two sides will discuss ways to further cooperation in various fields and open up a new chapter in the China-UAE relationship, Chang said. Endit