World

Xi ends state visit to UAE with raft of deals signed

July 21, 2018
(From L) Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed Bbin Sayed Al-Nahyan (L) meets with the Chinese President Xi Jinping,  UAE's Vice-President, Prime Minister, Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Defense Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum and Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi. — AFP
(From L) Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed Bbin Sayed Al-Nahyan (L) meets with the Chinese President Xi Jinping, UAE's Vice-President, Prime Minister, Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Defense Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum and Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi. — AFP

Dubai — The United Arab Emirates on Saturday said it agreed to set up a "comprehensive strategic partnership" with China as President Xi Jinping wrapped up a three-day visit to the Gulf country.

"The UAE and China have agreed to enhance cooperation in all fields to higher levels and forge overall strategic partnerships," the official WAM news agency said.

It said this would "contribute to cementing and intensifying cooperation, boost joint development and prosperity, which is consistent with the common interest of both countries and their peoples".

China and the UAE had already signed on Friday a raft of economic agreements and in the run-up to Xi's visit they agreed oil and trade deals.

Xi met UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, who is also ruler of Dubai, and Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan during his visit.

Abu Dhabi was the Chinese president's first stop on a tour which now takes him to Senegal, Rwanda and South Africa.

A joint statement by China and the UAE, published Saturday by WAM, said the two countries were committed to bolster cooperation across the board, including politics, economy, oil, gas and security.

There would also be joint military training, the two countries agreed.

The United Arab Emirates was "keen to deepen cooperation" which China's "One Belt, One Road" infrastructure plan, the statement added.

The ambitious trillion-dollar project aims to revive the ancient Silk Road trading routes with a global networks of ports, roads and railways.

On Thursday, the UAE's state-owned DP World announced an agreement between the two countries to build a new trade zone in Dubai as part of that project.

A strategic cooperation framework between state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) and China National Petroleum Company was among the deals signed on Friday, the UAE company said.

On Thursday ADNOC announced it had awarded two contracts worth $1.6 billion (1.4 billion euros) to BGP Inc, a subsidiary of CNPC, for a seismic survey in the emirate.

The survey will search for oil and gas in onshore and offshore sites covering an area of 53,000 square kilometers (20,500 square miles).

China is the United Arab Emirates' top trading partner and the UAE is also one of the top 15 crude suppliers to China. — AFP


July 21, 2018
422 views
HIGHLIGHTS
World
hour ago

Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison

World
hour ago

Jacob Zuma barred from running in South Africa elections

World
4 hours ago

India opposition leader Kejriwal to remain in jail in corruption case