China, UAE & Egypt to promote Belt & Road cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping said China is willing to promote Belt and Road cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) while holding talks with President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing on Thursday.

President Xi noted that the UAE is an important comprehensive strategic partner of China. In recent years, China-UAE relations have maintained a sound momentum of development, setting a good example for China-Arab state relations in the new era.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE, Xi said, adding that it is an important juncture for China-UAE relations to build on past achievements and forge ahead.

He said China stands ready to work with the UAE to continue to grasp the general direction of bilateral relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective and ensure the vigorous development of the comprehensive strategic partnership.

China is willing to consolidate cooperation in trade, energy and infrastructure and expand cooperation in high-tech areas such as information technology, artificial intelligence, the digital economy and new energy, he said.

China will continue to support the “Hundred Schools Project” of Chinese language education in the UAE, strengthen people-to-people exchanges and promote friendship between the two nations, he said.

Egypt and China on Wednesday finalized a range of cooperation agreements, including a collaborative development blueprint for the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as announced by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi's office.

During his visit to Beijing on Wednesday, President Sisi engaged in discussions with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

"The two presidents witnessed the signing ceremony of a number of cooperation agreements, including the joint development plan of the 'Belt and Road' Initiative and strengthening collaboration in the realms of technological innovation and IT as well as a multitude of other areas of cooperation," the office said in statement.

The statement further noted that the leaders of Egypt and China deliberated on regional and international developments, including the ongoing war on Gaza.

"During their talks, President El-Sisi and President Xi Jinping also discussed the situation in the African continent and ways to forge closer cooperation between the two countries, including supporting the continent’s development efforts," the statement read.

In response, the Chinese president affirmed Beijing's readiness to stand alongside Cairo in upholding international justice.

"The Chinese side is prepared to continuously deepen mutual trust and develop cooperation with Egypt, jointly

safeguard international impartiality and justice, as well as the common interests of developing countries," Xi was quoted as saying by the state-run China Central Television (CCTV).

Xi added that Beijing consistently promotes a multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization.

( Credit: Pakistan Today & Almayadeen)