UAE | Government

China salutes an 'old friend'

UAE to sign agreements with China on defence industries, education, customs and security cooperation.

  • By Abdul Hamid Ahmad, Editor-in-Chief
  • Published: 00:41 April 1, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Shaikh Mohammad and Hu Jintao hold talks in Beijing on Monday. The Chinese leader stressed the UAE Vice-President's great role in developing bilateral ties between the two countries.
  • Image Credit: AP
Image 1 of 4
1234

Beijing: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday began a four-day visit to China during which a number of agreements will be signed, including one on defence industries, Gulf News has learnt.

He held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao on bilateral and economic relations and mutual investment between the two countries yesterday.

The Chinese leader described Shaikh Mohammad as an "old friend" of the Chinese people, stressing the UAE Vice-President's "great role" in developing the bilateral ties, according to WAM.

Shaikh Mohammad said: "It is a great honour for me to visit China for the second time and meet the Chinese leader as well as to closely get to know the great Chinese civilisation." Shaikh Mohammad highlighted the volume of trade between the UAE and China, which has grown by an annual average of 40 per cent to $20 billion (Dh73.4 million) in 2007. The UAE is China's second-biggest trading partner in the Gulf after Saudi Arabia. Shaikh Mohammad also invited President Hu to visit the UAE. Later, Shaikh Mohammad and the accompanying delegation toured the Old City of Beijing.

During the visit, which ends on Thursday, the UAE and China will sign memorandums of understanding and agreements on bilateral cooperation, education, a customs agreement to exchange information related to drug smuggling, another on security cooperation and in defence industries, officials told Gulf News.

Today, Shaikh Mohammad is scheduled to visit Tsing-Hua University, where he will have a round-table discussion with 20 students on various issues. The students will be presented with copies of his book, My Vision, in the Chinese language.

Shaikh Mohammad will also visit the Great Wall of China, and meet the Governor of Beijing and other local officials.

Shaikh Mohammad will later leave for Shanghai where he will attend the joint economic forum between UAE and Chinese businessmen, which started on Sunday and ends today.

Shaikh Mohammad will return to Beijing to meet Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on Wednesday.

  • Rate this article
  • Average reader rating (0 votes) 0 Stars
Tools

Emailing an article to friend is a simple way to share a news item. Your friend will receive an email with your name and email address as well any personal message you choose to send.

The information you provide on this page will not be used to send unsolicited emails.

This service is not intended to encourage spam, and action may be taken against individuals who maliciously enter personal details of another individual.

Share this article

Related Articles

  1. 'Vital role in boosting UAE-China ties'

    'Vital role in boosting UAE-China ties'

    Mohammad played vital role in boosting UAE-China ties says Hu

  2. UAE and China to seal strong ties

    UAE and China to seal strong ties

    Raft of agreements to be signed as UAE and China seal strong ties

  3. Glitz masks media blackout on events

    Glitz of Beijing masks media blackout on events

  4. Mohammad Bin Rashid visits old Beijing

    Mohammad Bin Rashid visits old Beijing

  5. Dubai's non-oil trade with China surges 47%

    Dubai's non-oil trade with China surges 47%

    Dubai's non-oil trade with China surges 47%

  6. Free trade accord with GCC to get shot in arm

    Free trade accord with GCC to get shot in arm

    Free trade accord with GCC to get shot in arm

  7. Mohammad's visit to China is significant

    Mohammad's visit to China is significant

More from UAE Government

  1. Khalifa congratulates Karzai on re-election

  2. Khalifa receives congratulatory call from Talabani

  3. Saif is appointed Emiratisation chief

  4. Diplomacy: Envoys received

All articles in Government

More from UAE

Gulf News
Popular in UAE
Living in untidy homes
Have your say

Living in untidy homes

Do you think that people who live in untidy homes have bad character?

Latest news
Community Reports

More from Community Reports

Weather

More from Weather