Mohammed bin Zayed & Wen Jiabao Discuss Strategic Ties

His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces has discussed with Chinese Head of State Wen Jiabao, the distinguished relations between the two countries and ways to boost them in the light of support from the leadership of both countries. The meeting today follows the reception of Sheikh Mohammed at the Council of Ministers in Beijing by Jiabao in the presence of H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Khaldoun Khalifa, Chairman of the Executive Council Affairs, Nasser Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Head of the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court and Omar Ahmed Al Bittar, UAE Ambassador to China.

Sheikh Mohammed conveyed the regards of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to the Chinese Head of State. He expressed his pleasure of visiting China and good hospitality. He added that the UAE under the leadership of Sheikh Khalifa is keen to strengthen the bilateral ties with China, referring to the significant Chinese role in safeguarding the regional and international security and stability, as well as, the true interest of China to forge and strengthen friendship ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council for Arab States (GCC), especially with the UAE on basis of mutual interests.

Sheikh Mohammed said that the recent visit of the Chinese Head of State to the UAE had achieved positive results, among others, setting up of the long term strategic partnership between the two countries in service of joint interest, citing the historic relations of forefathers with China. He said the issues tackled during the meeting reflect clearly the mutual keenness on the joint cooperation, which would have positive impact in the next period on the relations between the UAE and China, referring to the huge growth of the relations seen in the mutual frequent visits by the senior officials.

For his part, the Chinese Head of State welcomed the visit of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and the delegation accompanying him, adding that the visit would have greater effect on bolstering the joint cooperation between the two countries. He thanked the UAE leadership, government and people for the reception and hospitality accorded to him when he visited the UAE last January. Jiabao said the visit has given him the first hand information about the progress, openness and co-existence in the UAE, stressing keenness of his country on developing the distinguished relations with the UAE. The Chinese President hoped that the visit of Sheikh Mohammed would further strengthen the strategic links between the two friendly countries. He lauded keenness of the UAE on boosting the ties with China, describing that as the UAE's diplomatic strategy, which demonstrates deep friendship and ties and the vision of the leadership. He said that the strategic partnership between the UAE and China is the first of its kind with the GCC country.

Jiabao commended the UAE leadership's vision in adopting the economic diversification policy and taking interest on the renewable energy sources, calling for extending the cooperation to include other sources of energy, petrochemicals and clean energy. In his turn, Jiabao conveyed his regards to the UAE President and Vice President, wishing more progress to the UAE. The meeting also tackled the cultural, educational and tourism exchange. The two sides explored a number of the regional and international issues, stressing the need for security and stability in the region to serve the comprehensive development. They discussed the current developments in the Middle East with emphasis on the importance of peaceful diplomatic efforts of Kofi Annan, Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League to put an end to the standoff in Syria and restore peace, security and stability.