UAE-China week,
The visit of China’s President, Xi Jinping will encourage cultural bonds as well as strengthen political and economic ties, the UAE’s Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development said.
Noura Al Kaabi launched UAE-China Week to boost ties between the two countries in Abu Dhabi yesterday, with the Chinese ambassador to the UAE, Ni Jian.
Culture is at the heart of UAE-China Week and a pavilion at Manarat Al Saadiyat is the centrepiece of this.
Visitors can learn more about China through art, board games, music and cinema screenings, while those who want to know more about the UAE can find out about pearl diving, calligraphy, henna and embroidery.
Ms Al Kaabi and Mr Ni toured the pavilion yesterday to launch the event.
“It’s a really important time for us to look at this relationship as not just economic or political ties, but what will bond it together and that’s the cultural element,” Ms Al Kaabi said.
“This week is a week that will happen every year and I’m truly proud to have students from Hamdan bin Zayed School speaking fluently in Mandarin. There will be more cultural agreements and partnerships happening with China.”
One of these pupils was Saif Al Dhaheri, 15, who spoke to the ambassador yesterday.
Saif has been studying Chinese since 2006 at the school and visited the country with his school.
“It’s difficult but it helps me,” he said. “If we know the language now, it will be easier to build links with them and it’s better if we are friends with the country.”
A painting of Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Hosn, alongside one of the entrances to Tiananmen Square, is one of the most striking pieces on display at the pavilion.
The piece, by Chinese artist Jack Lee, features calligraphy from renowned UAE artist Mohammed Mandi, who was working on it during the launch.
Mandi’s work can also be seen in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and on UAE currency and passports. The artwork recognises the close links between China and the UAE, and Ms Al Kaabi and Mr Ni stopped there for several minutes.
Lee has been based in the UAE for about 13 years and teaches fine art at universities.
“I feel very happy and excited,” he said of Mr Xi’s visit.
Elsewhere in the pavilion, Chinese classical musician Bai Juan was the focus of a lot of attention.
Bai, 24, has been playing the guzheng, a plucked stringed instrument, for 17 years and the ancient Chinese sounds echoed through Manarat Al Saadiyat during the day.
Visitors also got a taste of a UAE majlis, a miniature dhow, embroidery and a coffee-making area.
It is not clear if the Chinese president will be holding any public events, but Mr Xi is expected to visit Louvre Abu Dhabi as part of UAE-China Week.