President Sheikh Mohamed received condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa from China's President Xi Jinping. Photo: Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
President Sheikh Mohamed received condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa from China's President Xi Jinping. Photo: Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
President Sheikh Mohamed received condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa from China's President Xi Jinping. Photo: Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
President Sheikh Mohamed received condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa from China's President Xi Jinping. Photo: Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

UAE

Government

President Sheikh Mohamed receives call from China's President Xi

Chinese leader offers condolences over death of Sheikh Khalifa

The National

May 31, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

President Sheikh Mohamed has received condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa, from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During their phone call, Mr Xi also congratulated Sheikh Mohamed on his election as President.

Sheikh Khalifa's death was announced on May 13.

Dozens of international leaders and dignitaries travelled to Abu Dhabi in the following days to pay tribute to the late President ― who had led the Emirates since 2004 ― and to deliver messages of support to Sheikh Mohamed.

Mr Xi emphasised the historic ties between the UAE and China, which were strengthened during Sheikh Khalifa's presidency.

The Chinese leader expressed his desire to continue to work with Sheikh Mohamed to further bolster this partnership.

Sheikh Mohamed extended his thanks to his Chinese counterpart and stressed his wish to boost links between the nations.

Sheikh Mohamed attended the opening ceremony of the 24th Winter Olympics in Beijing in February, at the invitation of Mr Xi.

The two leaders held talks during his visit in which they explored ways to enhance the UAE and China's joint comprehensive partnership, particularly across fields of investment and the economy.

World leaders pay tribute to Sheikh Khalifa — in pictures

  • The President, Sheikh Mohamed, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, receive condolences for Sheikh Khalifa at Mushrif Palace. All photos: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    The President, Sheikh Mohamed, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, receive condolences for Sheikh Khalifa at Mushrif Palace. All photos: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, second right, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, at Mushrif Palace.
    Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, second right, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, at Mushrif Palace.
  • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Prince Mohammed greets Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed.
    Prince Mohammed greets Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed.
  • US Vice President Kamala Harris offers condolences to Sheikh Mohamed.
    US Vice President Kamala Harris offers condolences to Sheikh Mohamed.
  • US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ms Harris offer condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed, and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
    US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ms Harris offer condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed, and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
  • Britain's Prince William offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Britain's Prince William offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Prince William travelled to Abu Dhabi on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II and Britain's royal family.
    Prince William travelled to Abu Dhabi on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II and Britain's royal family.
  • Prince William and Governor General of Australia David Hurley speak with the President, Sheikh Mohamed. With them are Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, and Patrick Moody, the UK's ambassador to the UAE.
    Prince William and Governor General of Australia David Hurley speak with the President, Sheikh Mohamed. With them are Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, and Patrick Moody, the UK's ambassador to the UAE.
  • Prince William, Mr Hurley and the President, Sheikh Mohamed, at Mushrif Palace.
    Prince William, Mr Hurley and the President, Sheikh Mohamed, at Mushrif Palace.
  • Prince William offers condolences to Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region.
    Prince William offers condolences to Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region.
  • Prince William with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
    Prince William with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
  • Prince William with Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation.
    Prince William with Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation.
  • The Duke of Cambridge with Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa.
    The Duke of Cambridge with Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa.
  • David Hurley, Governor General of Australia, with the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    David Hurley, Governor General of Australia, with the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko speaks with the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko speaks with the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Chad's Minister of State Abakar Manany with the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Chad's Minister of State Abakar Manany with the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Ali Asadov meets the President, Sheikh Mohamed, at Mushrif Palace.
    Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Ali Asadov meets the President, Sheikh Mohamed, at Mushrif Palace.
  • Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, son of Yemen's late former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, son of Yemen's late former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Emirati mourners offer condolences at Mushrif Palace.
    Emirati mourners offer condolences at Mushrif Palace.
  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Mualla, Deputy Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed at Mushrif Palace.
    Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Mualla, Deputy Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed at Mushrif Palace.
  • The President, Sheikh Mohamed, receives Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, at Mushrif Palace.
    The President, Sheikh Mohamed, receives Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, at Mushrif Palace.
  • Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed.
    Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed.
  • The President, Sheikh Mohamed, receives Prime Minister Ali Asadov of Azerbaijan at Mushrif Palace.
    The President, Sheikh Mohamed, receives Prime Minister Ali Asadov of Azerbaijan at Mushrif Palace.
  • Prince Abdullah bin Sultan Ahmad Shah, Crown Prince of the State of Pahang in Malaysia, offers his condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Prince Abdullah bin Sultan Ahmad Shah, Crown Prince of the State of Pahang in Malaysia, offers his condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • From left to right: Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah; and Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah.
    From left to right: Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah; and Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah.
  • President of the United Comoros Othman Ghazali offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    President of the United Comoros Othman Ghazali offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Mourners offer condolences to Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, right, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
    Mourners offer condolences to Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, right, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
    Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
  • Sheikh Mohamed bin Sultan bin Khalifa and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa at Mushrif Palace.
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Sultan bin Khalifa and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa at Mushrif Palace.
  • Sean Murphy, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the US embassy in Abu Dhabi, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Sean Murphy, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the US embassy in Abu Dhabi, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • King Philippe of Belgium offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    King Philippe of Belgium offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Canada's Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjan offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Canada's Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjan offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • New Zealand's Governor-General Dame Cindy Kero greets the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    New Zealand's Governor-General Dame Cindy Kero greets the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Grand Duke Henri, Duke of Luxembourg, conveys his condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Grand Duke Henri, Duke of Luxembourg, conveys his condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Bahrain's King Hamad pays his respects to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Bahrain's King Hamad pays his respects to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike arrives in Abu Dhabi to offer her condolences.
    Governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike arrives in Abu Dhabi to offer her condolences.
  • Russia's Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Russia's Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Special Envoy of the President of the Philippines Robert Bourget offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Special Envoy of the President of the Philippines Robert Bourget offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation Hussein Ibrahim Taha offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation Hussein Ibrahim Taha offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • CIA Director William Burns offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    CIA Director William Burns offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Co-operation Lisge Schrenimacher offers her condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Co-operation Lisge Schrenimacher offers her condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Foreign Minister of Iran, offers condolences to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.
    Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Foreign Minister of Iran, offers condolences to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.
  • Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, right, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, president of the Pakistan People’s Party, second left, offer their condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed, second right, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, left, at the Presidential Airport.
    Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, right, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, president of the Pakistan People’s Party, second left, offer their condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed, second right, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, left, at the Presidential Airport.
  • Ammar Al Hakim, head of the National Wisdom Movement of Iraq, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Ammar Al Hakim, head of the National Wisdom Movement of Iraq, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Ambassador Kenneth Felix, secretary for bilateral negotiations in the Middle East, Europe and Africa, in Brazil, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Ambassador Kenneth Felix, secretary for bilateral negotiations in the Middle East, Europe and Africa, in Brazil, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Dr Rashad Mohamed Al Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Dr Rashad Mohamed Al Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Yuriko Koike, governor of Tokyo, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Yuriko Koike, governor of Tokyo, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Robert Bourget, the special envoy of the president of the Philippines, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Robert Bourget, the special envoy of the president of the Philippines, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Sergio Mattarella, the president of Italy, left, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Sergio Mattarella, the president of Italy, left, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • The Honorable Brett McGurk, deputy assistant to the president and co-ordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, National Security Counci, left, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    The Honorable Brett McGurk, deputy assistant to the president and co-ordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, National Security Counci, left, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of Equatorial Guinea, centre right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of Equatorial Guinea, centre right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, president of the Pakistan People’s Party, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, president of the Pakistan People’s Party, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Hussein bin Abdullah, Crown Prince of Jordan, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Hussein bin Abdullah, Crown Prince of Jordan, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • HE Uhuru Mogai Kenyatta, president of Kenya, left, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    HE Uhuru Mogai Kenyatta, president of Kenya, left, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Panagiotis Pekraminos, the deputy prime minister of Greece, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Panagiotis Pekraminos, the deputy prime minister of Greece, right, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
  • Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of Equatorial Guinea, centre, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
    Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of Equatorial Guinea, centre, offers condolences to the President, Sheikh Mohamed.
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Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

Updated: May 31, 2022, 12:40 PM
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