President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates concluded a landmark two-day state visit to China, centred on deepening Arab-Chinese relations and cementing the UAE's role as Beijing's most strategic Gulf partner. The UAE President's 2024 China state visit marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, with China recognised as the UAE's top global trading partner.
Arrival and Ceremonial Welcome at the Great Hall of the People
The visit opened with an official welcome at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where President Sheikh Mohamed and China's President Xi Jinping presided over a ceremonial guard of honour. The formal setting underscored the significance of the bilateral relationship and set the tone for the substantive talks that followed.
UAE Joins the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum
Sheikh Mohamed participated in the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, held at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. The forum brought together a high-level gathering of Arab heads of state, including President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, President Kais Saied of Tunisia, and Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, also attended.
In his address at the forum, Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation between Arab nations and China, emphasising shared prosperity and common goals as the foundation of the partnership.
MOUs Signed on Technology and Energy
A key outcome of the UAE President's China state visit was the signing of several memoranda of understanding between the two countries. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of both President Sheikh Mohamed and President Xi Jinping. On the UAE side, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Suhail bin Mohamed Al Mazrouei, the UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, were among the signatories, covering cooperation in technology and energy — two sectors at the heart of the UAE's economic diversification agenda.
Meeting with the Speaker of China's People's Congress
Sheikh Mohamed also held a separate meeting with Zhao Leji, Speaker of the Chinese People's Congress, accompanied by Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The discussions focused on legislative cooperation and identifying new opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration between the two countries.
A Milestone for UAE-China Relations
The two-day visit reinforced the depth and breadth of the UAE-China relationship, providing a firm foundation from which both nations — and the broader Arab region — stand to gain. With China as the UAE's leading global trading partner and the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties as a backdrop, the visit signalled a new chapter of strategic engagement between Abu Dhabi and Beijing.
