Chinese academics on visit to improve UAE ties

ABU DHABI // A high-level Chinese academic delegation is in the UAE to enhance knowledge cooperation between the countries.

The delegation headed by ambassador Yang Fuchang, the former Chinese deputy foreign minister and honorary president of the Chinese Association of Middle East Studies, arrived in the capital on Tuesday and met Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, as well Zayed University officials.

Mr Yang said Chinese universities and research centres wanted stronger ties with the UAE.

"We are looking to build more relations through initiatives like the China-UAE relations institute [The Confucius Institute] at Zayed University," Mr Yang said,

The institute, the first in the Arabian Gulf, was opened in March last year to strengthen ties in trade, cultural activities and research.

Dr Xue Qing Guo, the vice dean of the Arabic Department at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said an increase in educational exchange was also on the agenda.

"As of now the UAE is too expensive for Chinese students as one night in a hotel averages US$100 and in return there are a few Emirati students in China therefore we would like to increase the educational exchange between China and the UAE," Dr Xue said.