13 pacts to strengthen cooperation
abu dhabi — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; and President Xi Jinping of China, have witnessed the signing of 13 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) between the two countries with the aim to strengthen strategic partnerships and bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
A number of Sheikhs, ministers and senior officials, as well as Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, Ambassador of the UAE to the People’s Republic of China, and Ambassador Ni Jian of China to the UAE, also attended the signing of the agreements and MoUs.
The agreements and MoUs included two memoranda of understanding on the construction of embassies and other buildings, as well as the establishment of cultural centres. The MoUs were signed by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
An MoU to advance energy cooperation between the UAE Ministry of Energy and Industry and China’s National Energy Commission was signed by Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry, and He Lifeng, Vice-Chairperson of Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of National Development and Reform Commission.
Two MoUs to enhance e-commerce ties as well as greater cooperation at the China International Import Expo were signed by Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, and Zhong Shan, Chinese Minister of Commerce.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs signed two MoUs to enhance cooperation in the agriculture sector and the building of a wholesale market for agricultural products, livestock and fisheries. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Chinese Ambassador Ni Jian signed the MoUs.
Two MoUs concerning cooperation on the Silk Road Initiative and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative were signed by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, and He Lifeng, Chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission. A strategic cooperation agreement between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and China National Petroleum Company was signed by Dr Sultan Al Jaber and Wang Yilin, Chairman at China National Petroleum Corp.
Commissioner Ali bin Subaih Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Federal Customs Authority, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi An signed an agreement on mutual cooperation and administrative assistance in the customs issues.
A framework agreement for cooperation between the Abu Dhabi Global Market and the ChineseUAE Pilot Zone to create a platform for financial services and innovation on industrial capacity cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road initiatives was signed by Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Global Market, and Bin Wang, Chairman of China Jiangsu International.
A partnership and investment agreement in the world’s largest solar energy project was signed by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, and Wang Yanzhi, Executive Director and President of the Silk Road Fund. —