 | |
 China |  United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of China,Abu Dhabi | Embassy of the United Arab Emirates,Beijing |
China – United Arab Emirates relations refer to the diplomatic relations between thePeople's Republic of China and theUnited Arab Emirates. Diplomatic ties were first established in 1984. The UAE maintains an embassy inBeijing and a consulate-general inHong Kong while China has an embassy inAbu Dhabi and consulate-general inDubai. The UAE and China have been strong international allies, with significant cooperation across economic, political and cultural aspects.[1][2][3][4]
The relations between the two have historically been mounted on high-level trade. In 2007, China-UAE bilateral trade scaled new highs, exceeding $19.4 billion and indicating a growth rate of 41 percent. There are also some 2,000 Chinese firms operating in the UAE and a large community ofChinese in the United Arab Emirates who are involved primarily in the construction sector.[5] Additionally, the UAE is China's second largest trading partner in thePersian Gulf region and the largest in terms of buying Chinese products.
According toWen Jiabao, "the UAE is one of China's most important economic partners in the Persian Gulf region, serving as a transfer center for Chinese products to the Middle East and African markets." He also encouraged Emirati businesses to invest in China and Chinese companies to invest in the UAE, noting that the expansion of bilateral cooperation facilitates the fundamental interests of both nations.[6]
During a visit to China in 2010, UAE Minister of Foreign TradeSheikha Lubna Al Qasimi expressed that the UAE was keen on strengthening its strategic partnership with China and developing commercial and investment cooperation.[7] In 2012, China and UAE signed a strategic partnership agreement.[8]: 211
Despite pressure from the US, Abu Dhabi's cooperation with China over artificial intelligence and upgradation of hi-tech industries continued. Analysts were warning that strengthening relations between the UAE and Beijing, citing the May 2024 visit ofMohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to China, were “not irreversible” and may cause issues with the US. In the meeting, UAE-China vowed on closer cooperation in areas including artificial intelligence. The US and China have most intensive competition in the areas on which Abu Dhabi and Beijing were vowing cooperation, including trade and investment, science and technology, and others. That was becoming an increasing concern for Washington. In May 2024, US restricted the UAE's G42 to reduce its association with China. In 2023, the US also stopped the Emirati plans to participate in China's 2026 Chang’e-7 moon mission, considering the US technology transfer restrictions.[9]
In July 2024, China and the United Arab Emirates are holding joint air force training exercise, dubbed Falcon Shield, in the northwest Xinjiang province of China. In 2022, The Emirati Defense Ministry announced a deal with theChina National Aero-Technology Import & Export for the purchase of 12 L-15 light attack planes. In 2022, China was the UAE's largest trading partner, while the UAE was China's biggest partner in the Arab world.[10]
In May 2010, both sides inked a memorandum of understanding with the aim of pushing forward cooperation in railway construction. Under the document, signed byLiu Zhijun andSheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the two sides will launch extensive cooperation in such areas as railway development, engineering construction, technical exchanges and personnel training.[11]
In July 2018,Chinese Communist Party general secretaryXi Jinping visited UAE. Xi meets Prime MinisterSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Crown Prince of Abu DhabiSheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan inAbu Dhabi. Xi was awardedOrder of Zayed by PresidentSheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.[12][13]
China and the UAE signed $3.4 billion worth of deals as part of China'sBelt and Road Initiative. The initiative aims to use thePort of Jebel Ali to ship Chinese products to the world using the UAE's position as both sea and land trading hub.[14]Dubai's Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is intended as a flagship BRI renewable project in the Middle East.[15]: 184
There are over 180,000people of Chinese origin living in the UAE.[5]
The United Arab Emirates follows theone China principle, and recognizesgovernment of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan as "an inalienable part" of China. The UAE also supports all efforts by the PRC to "achievenational reunification" and opposesTaiwan independence.[16]
In July 2019, UN ambassadors of 37 countries, including UAE,Qatar,Bahrain andSaudi Arabia, signed a joint letter to theUNHRC defending China'streatment of Uyghurs in theXinjiang region.[17]
In June 2020, UAE was one of 53 countries that backed theHong Kong national security law at theUnited Nations.[18]
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