Gulf Today

Uae-china relations on upward track

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Relations between the UAE and China are on a sound footing. The prestige of dealing with an economic powerhouse such as China is not lost on the UAE.

Ni Jian, Chinese Ambassador to the UAE, showered praise on the UAE’S sterling achievemen­ts over the past 50 years, noting that it has become the “Pearl of the Middle East.”

The compliment from China is particular­ly relevant, as the nation has come a long way since the establishm­ent of the new China in 1949. It has a GDP of at least $14.7 trillion, and that is something that cannot be ignored.

Litle wonder then that the country is seeking fresh avenues of investment to enhance its global economic cachet.

China’s standing has grown considerab­ly over the years. Also, there are several countries, whose economy has been batered by the coronaviru­s, who look upon the nation as a financial saviour.

A recent report said India would clear the decks for investment proposals from China, which could probably include those from Great Wall Motor and SAIC Motor Corp.

Clearly economic compulsion­s seem to trump the political power play, ater a standoff between the two nations over troop incursions in the Himalayas.

However, during the rage of the coronaviru­s, if there is one thing that is noteworthy, it is the fact that China has stood by the UAE to help stem the damaging impact of the pandemic, particular­ly on the economy.

China, it needs to be mentioned, is the UAE’S leading commercial partner.

The cooperatio­n between the two countries is in a host of areas, including renewable energy

The UAE is the first country in the world to approve the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine ater initiating its trial in the country on 23rd June 2020.

As a tribute that the UAE cares for China, it put up a sign on Burj Khalifa saying, ‘Stay strong, Wuhan’ in Chinese which was lit up on the iconic building. The city of Wuhan has been charged by the United States for being the cradle of the coronaviru­s.

Also, in a hearfelt message for the victims of the coronaviru­s in China last year, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed posted tweets on his official account in several languages including Chinese. This moved the Chinese people considerab­ly.

The bonding between the UAE and China is real and solid. With the 50 years’ celebratio­ns coming up, China will always occupy a special place in the hearts of the people in the UAE.

China has made stupendous strides in both the economic and military field over the past 40 years, particular­ly ater the decline in the Nineties of the Soviet Union that put an end to the Cold War.

China is a lucrative source of investment – for example in US government bonds. However, China is viewed by the West as a threat to global stability.

But China being what it is, it seems to have amazing resilience.

China’s re-emergence in the political and economic domains may ratle the West. The country was for centuries one of the most influentia­l economies on earth.

According to a report by OECD, Chinese per capita income was prety high, much more than that of Europe from the 10th century to the early 15th century. It was the world’s biggest economy for several centuries thereater.

The bonding between the UAE and China is on an upward trajectory. And with the Expo 2020 coming up, China’s role is going to be in the spotlight once again, as it always is. According to one report, China will participat­e in the Expo 2020 Dubai through a prety large pavilion, under the theme, “China Light.”

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