Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to visit China next week

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed will embark on an official visit to China next week to further cement ties between the Emirates and the world's most populous country.

During the visit Sheikh Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior officials.

He and Mr Xi will review co-operation between the two countries across various sectors, as well as regional and international issues of interest, the state news agency Wam reported.

Among the senior figures accompanying the Crown Prince will be Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, chief executive of Adnoc Group and chairman of Masdar.

The visit to China comes almost a year after Mr Xi travelled to the UAE, further cementing the history of trade and co-operation between the two countries.

Today, there are estimated to be 200,000 Chinese living in the UAE, mostly in Dubai, in industries ranging from construction and oil to retail.

"Over 28 years ago, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan visited China, founded the strategic relationship between the two countries that has yielded fruitful trade and investment, as well as cultural relations, for more than three decades," Sheikh Mohamed said before Mr Xi's trip last year.

In April, China signed an agreement to invest $3.4 billion (Dh12.49bn) into shipping and food projects in Dubai, as part of its Belt and Road economic megaproject.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid meets Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan in Beijing
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid meets with Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan in Beijing, China.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attends the opening session of the Belt and Road Conference for International Co-operation in Beijing, China. All photos by Wam
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid attends the opening session of the Belt and Road Conference for International Co-operation.
China's President Xi Jinping speaks at the opening session.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid listens to Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres' speech.
China's President Xi Jinping speaks at the opening session.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid meets Mr Wang.
From left: Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Minister of Economy HE Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori; Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future; Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; and Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, attend the meeting.

In December 2015, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed wrapped up a three-day official tour of China declaring that it had been “outstanding”.

He arrived in Beijing for meetings promote the development of friendly relations and co-operation with China but took some time to visit some of the country's most famous tourist attractions, including the Great Wall.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, visits the Great Wall of China at Badaling, at the start of his official three-day state visit. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court – Abu Dhabi

After a visit by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to China in April 2019, two projects worth a total of $3.4bn investments were announced.

The first was a to build a "traders' market" that would be built along Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road opposite the Expo Dubai site, over an initial area of 186 hectares.

The Chinese company Yiwu will invest $2.4bn in the project, which includes large logistics warehouses and wholesale shops, which will strengthen Jebel Ali Free Zone’s role in supporting regional and global trade movement.

The second agreement was signed with the China-Arab investment Fund, which would invest $1bn on a "vegetable basket" project in Dubai.

It will include huge complexes and cold storage warehouses for importing, processing, packaging, storing and re-exporting agricultural, livestock and fish products.

Over the past 2,000 years, the ancient Silk Road has formed a bond between Chinese and Arab people.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to visit China next week

Visit follows a year of investment and growing ties between the countries