Road and belt initiative win-win for UAE and China

DUBAI - China's road and belt initiative presents a good opportunity to boost the strategic partnership between China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Chang Hua, China' s ambassador to the UAE, wrote on Thursday in a guest comment for Dubai daily Gulf news.

Chang wrote that the ancient Silk Road had always been standing for peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit.

The initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping "provides a good opportunity for China and the UAE to further deepen the strategic partnership in an all-round manner", said the ambassador, adding that it also aims to promote the connectivity of Asian, European and African continents and their adjacent seas.

The connectivity projects will help align and coordinate development strategies and coordinate development strategies, tap market potential in the Asian region and the Middle East, said the article.

"The China-UAE friendship boasts a long history," said Chang, adding that the initiative coincides with the initiative of rejuvenating the Silk Road proposed by Abu Dhabi crown prince and UAE deputy supreme commander Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

"China attaches great importance to China-UAE relationship and stands ready to work with the UAE to push forward our cooperation and add new momentum to our common cause of jointly building the Belt and Road," Chang said.

According to China council for the promotion of international trade whose UAE office is based in the emirate of Sharjah, in 2014,

bilateral trade volume reached $50 billion, and the UAE has became the largest export market for China in the North Africa and West Asia region for many years.

Earlier last week, the UAE joined the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as a founding member. Sultan Bin Ahmed Sultan Al-Jaber, UAE Minister of State, said this milestone has been possible due to the wise directives and unlimited support of the UAE's leadership.

"In the light of joint strategic ties between the UAE and China,

and infrastructure development in developing countries, both countries have partnered to set up a strong international platform to actively drive development efforts", he said.