UAE President in China: MoUs signed, 10th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum

HH Sheikh Mohamed, President of UAE, is in China on a high-profile state visit, after concluding a trip to South Korea. He met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations and opportunities to expand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The discussions took place in the Great Hall of the People. During the talks, both sides noted that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of UAE-China bilateral ties. The moment is seen as an opportunity to celebrate the progress made over the last decades.

Sheikh Mohamed and Xi said they are committed to bolstering these ties and exchanged views on regional and international issues, including the Israel-Hamas fighting. The conflict has been raging on since October 7 and has already claimed tens of thousands of lives.

UAE, China sign key MoUs and agreements

His Highness noted that Xi’s visit to the UAE in 2018 marked a historic milestone, culminating in the declaration of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Xi later hosted a banquet in Sheikh Mohamed’s honour, attended by the UAE delegation and Chinese officials.

China is the UAE’s top global trading partner. The Emirati leader said there are joint efforts to double the volume of trade in the near future. The UAE is also playing a significant role in China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.

On Thursday, Sheikh Mohamed and Xi marked a ceremony to announce, exchange and sign several agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs), across a range of cooperation areas. The deals inked today include,

1. MoU on Joint Formulation of the Cooperation Plan on the Belt and Road Initiative

2. MoU on establishing the China-UAE High-Level Investment Cooperation Committee

3. MoU on the Recognition of Seafarers’ Certificates of Competence

4. MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Industries and Technologies

5. Cooperation Agreement in the Field of Science and Technology

6. MoU for Intellectual Property Cooperation

7. MoU on Cooperation in the Tourism Sector

8. MoU Promoting Investment Cooperation in Green Development

9. MoU on Health Cooperation

10. MoU on Joint Chinese Language Education

China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing

His Highness also spoke at the opening session of the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. He said the meeting represented the strength of Chinese-Arab relations and expressed his confidence in the summit further enhancing ties.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a peace conference on the Israel-Hamas fighting as he addressed Arab leaders and diplomats at the forum in Beijing. Addressing the delegations, he said China supported a “broad-based” peace conference to resolve the conflict.

“Justice should not be absent forever … [China] supports Palestine’s full membership in the UN, and supports a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference.” He also revealed a decision to host the second China-Arab States Summit in 2026.