Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi meets UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

In this Jan 14, 2019 photo, Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative, Yang Jiechi, meets Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, UAE. HUI HUI XINHUA ABU DHABI President of the United Arab Emirates UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi on Friday to discuss bilateral relations and ways to boost cooperation.

Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, first conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to the UAE president.

Yang said that China regards the UAE as a priority in its diplomacy in the Middle East.

He noted that the strategic guidance provided by the two heads of state plays a key role in the development of China-UAE relations. The two leaders have led the way to boost bilateral ties in the new era with a successful meeting and a phone call since the beginning of this year.

Yang reiterated that China strongly supports the UAE in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security, while resolutely opposing any interference in the Gulf country's internal affairs.

China highly appreciates UAE support for the China-sponsored Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative, and is willing to deepen cooperation with the UAE under the two major initiatives, aiming to make positive contributions to lasting world peace and long-term development, Yang said.

He said that he hopes that the two sides will enhance coordination under China's Belt and Road Initiative and the UAE's Designing the Next 50 development plan, overcome the challenges posed by the COVID 19 pandemic, and expand cooperation in civil aviation, energy, finance, investment, infrastructure and other traditional sectors, and create more cooperation highlights in new fields.

On global and regional issues, Yang pointed out that China is willing to step up communication and coordination with the UAE and to engage in extensive South-South cooperation.

The Chinese diplomat stressed that China is ready to strengthen cooperation with all Arab countries, to practice true multilateralism, and to safeguard international fairness and justice.

The UAE leader asked Yang to express his sincere regards to President Xi, while expressing warm congratulations to the CPC on its 101 st anniversary, which falls on Friday.

Sheikh Mohamed said that the UAE and China enjoy a strong political mutual trust and brotherly friendship, which serves as a model of mutual respect and trust between countries.

The UAE president said that it is a long-term project to maintain the special strategic partnership between the UAE and China.

Sheikh Mohamed also pledged to deepen the synergy between the development strategies of the two countries and bilateral cooperation in various fields, actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road and contribute to the peaceful development of the region and the world as a whole.