The visit of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to China comes amid changing and evolving global circumstances, a UAE minister has said.
UAE Shaikh Mohammed meets the then Chinese president Hu Jintao during his visit to China in 2008
Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, explained that both countries are aware that cooperation between them in all fields "is necessary and required to shape the future of progress and peace in the world".
Cooperation between the two countries is seen as a "successful model of constructive international cooperation". "This visit confirms the strong relations between the peoples of the two countries.
The UAE and China have been maintaining trade relations since the 7th century.
The relations took a modern shape on December 3, 1971 - a day after the UAE came into being - when the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan sent a cable to the then Chinese premier, Zhou Enlai, informing him about the union. Enlai replied with a cable of greetings that represented China's recognition of the nascent state. The UAE and China first established diplomatic relations on November 1, 1984.
"I am fully convinced that this visit will be a major factor in boosting the intellectual, cultural and humanitarian relations with China. These relations, which are now witnessing a steady growth, are based on cooperation, coexistence and continuous communication, and have also become an example of successful popular diplomacy around the world."
Shaikh Nahyan said the visit confirms the UAE's successful foreign policy, which is based on prosperity, peace and stability. "This auspicious visit is a strong expression of the important status the UAE holds."
The foundations of the UAE's prestigious status among nations were first laid by the founding father, the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. This principle is also followed by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed. - Wam