UAE keen to support Arab-Chinese cooperation: Sheikh Abdullah

Abu Dhabi - Foreign minister expresses 'pride' and 'admiration' for UAE's relations with China.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has emphasised the UAE's keenness to support and promote Arab-Chinese cooperation on a variety of fronts.
Sheikh Abdullah made the remarks while addressing the 9th China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) Ministerial Meeting held remotely via video conference on Monday.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ayman Al Safadi, Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and Wang Yi, Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs with the participation of Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States; a number of ministers of Foreign Affairs, and high-profile officials.
Sheikh Abdullah said:"The UAE is keen to support and promote Arab-Chinese cooperation and to expand this relationship to broader horizons. From this standpoint, the United Arab Emirates' participation in the 9th Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum Ministerial Meeting, and the participation of the UAE in the Ministerial 'Belt and Road International Cooperation' meeting in June 2020, reflects the keenness of our leadership to strengthen and activate the mechanisms of a joint Arab cooperation with the People's Republic of China."
Sheikh Abdullah congratulated Jordan for assuming the presidency of the 9th Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum Ministerial Meeting, and expressed his sincere appreciation for the efforts made to prepare for the virtual meeting in light of the current circumstances facing the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation also thanked China for the medical aid provided to the UAE, and for the cooperation between the two countries in combating this pandemic, as well as the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in developing a vaccine against Covid-19.
Sheikh Abdullah said: ''We, in the UAE today, express our pride and admiration for the distinguished level of our relations with China, while commending the strategic partnership between the two countries and joint cooperation in all fields, including the medical sector, and non-oil trade.
The visit to China of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, reflected the importance that the two friendly countries attach to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement between them, he said.
This coincided with the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Sheikh Abdullah recalled that the UAE-China Economic Forum was held in July 2019 under the theme of 'Sustainable Partnership and Sustainable Investment' in a partnership that has continued for three decades, and advanced to a strategic level that includes 13 major fields and sectors. Moreover, the volume of non-oil trade exchange between the UAE and China in 2019 reached more than Dh50 billion.
He indicated that there is no doubt that this forum has contributed to enriching Arab-Chinese relations, and created common goals aimed at achieving the growth and prosperity of both the Arab people and those of China, which enhances the security and stability of the region.
He emphasised that the UAE looks forward to additional opportunities to enhance Arab-Chinese relations and achieve further consensus between the two countries in support of the Arab positions in international fora.
Sheikh Abdullah stressed ''that achieving security, stability and reaching peaceful solutions to existing disputes and conflicts, alleviating human suffering on the peoples of the region, especially the Palestinians, in addition to the Libyan, Yemeni and Syrian crisis. He also insisted that the Middle East peace process requires joint and collaborative action.'
Sheikh Abdullah added: "We hail China's support for the demands of the UAE in the issue of the three occupied UAE islands by Iran (Abu Musa, and the Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb) to reach a peaceful and fair settlement with Iran by peaceful means through direct and serious bilateral negotiations in accordance with the principles and rules of international law, including that laid down by the International Court of Justice. The UAE reaffirms its support to the People's Republic of China in the 'One China Principle' and respect for China's 'one country, two systems' model.
"The UAE also commends the efforts of the People's Republic of China towards the Muslim minority in the Xinjiang region. We stress the importance of combating the scourge of extremism and terrorism together, and reiterate that our common vision towards terrorism to achieve security and stability in the region and the world.
"We also underscore the need to work together to secure the freedom of navigation, international trade, waterways, energy supplies, and contribute to international peace and security.
"We express our sincere hope that the final outcomes of this ministerial session will reflect the distinguished level of the Arab-Chinese relations. We look forward to the constructive cooperation between our friends from both the Arab and the Chinese sides today in order to achieve the desired goals of this distinguished forum and meet the aspirations of our leaders," he concluded.