Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces received Yang Jiechi, Special Representative of the President of China and Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, at the Sea Palace earlier this year. Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi 
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces received Yang Jiechi, Special Representative of the President of China and Member of Show more

The China-Arab partnership promises a bright future



There is an old Chinese saying: distance cannot separate true friends who feel close to each other even when they are thousands of miles apart. The friendship between China and Arab states dates back to ancient times. Over the past 2,000 years, the ancient Silk Road has formed a bond between Chinese and Arab people.

Through long stretches of history, matters of peace and co-operation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win results have always been the main theme of exchanges between China and Arab states.

In the new era, as China and Arab states are natural strategic partners in jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, the unique advantages and synergy of their development co-operation are becoming more prominent. China and Arab countries have already established a sound relationship that is mutually reinforcing and complementing in multilateral and bilateral, official and public aspects. Our practical co-operation has entered a new stage.

The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was launched in 2004 as a strategic choice for long-term development in the 21st century. With concerted efforts made by both sides, the mechanism has been continuously improved, which indicates the enormous potential of China-Arab co-operation. It has set a good example for co-operation between developing countries and this month the eighth ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum will be convened in Beijing, with the theme of jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, peace and development and joining hands to advance the China-Arab States Strategic Partnership in the new era.

_______________________

Read more from Opinion:

_______________________

The two sides will make further plans to promote development in common areas and identify new areas for co-ordination with the aim of creating a bright future and an alignment of strategies.

As an Arab poet once wrote: “When you turn to the sun, you will see hope”. President Xi Jinping has said to Arab friends that China will “support and promote the peace, development, industrialisation and stability in the Middle East and be its partner in people-to-people exchanges”. This new idea which embodies Chinese wisdom is not only a precious spiritual gift given by the Chinese leader to Arab people but is also the fundamental guidance for Chinese diplomacy toward Arab states.

Our political relationship has been continuously consolidated. China has established comprehensive strategic partnership, strategic partnership or strategic co-operative partnership with 10 Arab countries.

China and Arab states respect each other's core interests and major concerns, keep close communication and co-ordinate on regional and global affairs and have made positive contributions to the peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large.

Bilateral economic and trade co-operation are witnessing robust growth. China is now the second largest trading partner of Arab states as a whole and the largest trading partner with 10 of them. In 2017, overall trade volume between China and Arab states was more than $191 billion, an increase of 11.9 per cent compared with the previous year; direct investment from China to Arab states was $1.26 billion and project contracts newly signed between China and Arab countries were more than $32 billion.

Fruitful results have been achieved in jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative. China has already signed a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative with nine Arab states and industrial co-operation documents with four Arab states.

China and the Arab states have developed a "1+2+3" co-operation pattern, where energy is the top priority, infrastructure construction and trade and investment facilitation are two focuses and three new high-tech areas, namely nuclear energy, space satellite and new energy, are key areas to instigate change.

As the UAE and six other Arab states become the founding members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, our interests are further inter-related. Cultural and people-to-people exchanges are getting more dynamic; China and many Arab nations have established cultural centres, celebrated cultural events and participated in arts festivals in each other’s countries.

This partnership promises a bright future. As the world and the region are going through profound and complex adjustments, the international order and the Middle East situation are undergoing historical transformation. It is increasingly urgent for both sides to safeguard peace and promote development.

We need to maintain bilateral visits at all levels, expand exchanges in all fields and build long-term strategic mutual trust in the future. We need to firmly support each other’s core interests and major concerns, strengthen communication and co-ordination on regional and global issues and jointly deal with traditional and non-traditional security challenges as well as tap complementary advantages. We also need to promote mutual learning and communication between different civilisations, build a community of a shared future for mankind and work together to create a harmonious world with long-standing peace and common prosperity.

As an Arab proverb goes: “Choose a suitable partner before you start a journey”. In the context of jointly advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, China and the UAE are the right partners and share a common aspiration for development. The golden age of our bilateral relationship will soon come. The UAE is an exemplary model of opening up in the Middle East and has the deepest, broadest and most fruitful co-operation with China among all Middle East countries.

In recent years, our political mutual trust has been continuously deepened and solid steps have been taken to co-operate under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. In 2017, our bilateral trade volume topped $41 billion. The UAE is the first country to reach agreement with China to exempt regular passports from pre-entry visa requirements. For the first time, Chinese citizens travelling to the UAE exceeded one million last year.

The initiative proposed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, of teaching Chinese language in 100 UAE schools is well underway, with the first batch of 20 teachers already teaching Chinese in 11 schools. Looking ahead, the two sides will further enrich the contents of our strategic partnership, help the UAE become an example of Chinese-Arab cooperation and inject fresh impetus into the development of the Middle East.

“Boundless is the ocean where we sail with the wind.” We have reached a new historical starting point in the China-Arab relationship, facing a time of greater development opportunity and comprehensive co-operation in the new era.

Ni Jian is the Chinese ambassador to the UAE

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

Where to submit a sample

Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain

Five films to watch

Castle in the Sky (1986)

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Only Yesterday (1991)

Pom Poki (1994)

The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)

Breast cancer in men: the facts

1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.

2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash. 

3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible. 

4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key. 

5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor

 

Key developments

All times UTC 4

Teenage%20Mutant%20Ninja%20Turtles%3A%20Shredder's%20Revenge
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETribute%20Games%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dotemu%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENintendo%20Switch%2C%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20One%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

The biog

Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives. 

The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast. 

As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau

He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker. 

If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah

 

The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
%3Cp%3E1.%20Singapore%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Switzerland%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Denmark%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Ireland%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Hong%20Kong%0D%3Cbr%3E6.%20Sweden%0D%3Cbr%3E7.%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E8.%20Taiwan%0D%3Cbr%3E9.%20Netherlands%0D%3Cbr%3E10.%20Norway%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).

The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now