Ahead of his visit to the Middle East and Africa, Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote an article that was published in two national newspapers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), outlining why collaboration was key for future developments.
The article titled “Working Hand in Hand for a Better Future,” was published on Wednesday in Al Ittihad and The National, two newspapers in the UAE, a day before Xi’s state visit to the Arab country.
“I look forward to working with the UAE leaders to draw up a blueprint for China-UAE cooperation so as to unlock its full potentials and advance China-UAE relations at a higher level and speed and build a China-UAE community of shared future in Belt and Road cooperation,” Xi’s article read in part.
“I am convinced that with the support and participation of our two peoples, we will be able to make history with our mutually-beneficial cooperation and contribute more to the world and the future that we share,” it went on.
That publication has been widely praised in the Arab nation, as various people there reiterated President Xi’c call for enhanced cooperation between his country and the UAE.
The editor-in-chief of Al Ittihad, Mohammed Al-Hamadi, said that as Xi noted, China and the UAE have become bosom friends who help and complement each other, and are important partners who always communicate and coordinate with each other on regional and international affairs.
“These words are accurate expressions about the friendly relationship between China and the UAE,” commented Al-Hamadi, who is also chairman of Journalists Association of the UAE.
President Xi’s visit to the UAE is the first by a Chinese head of state in 29 years, and is seen as a clear indication of the bilateral friendships he aims to build.
During the visit, the two sides are expected to bolster cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative, production capacity, energy, agriculture and finance, and further promote their strategic partnership.
After completing the UAE visit, the Chinese leader will embark on a four-nation visit of Africa, where he will visit Senegal, Rwanda, South Africa (where he will attend the 2018 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg) and Mauritius.
The BRICS Summit is scheduled to take place between July 26 and 27.
