During the event’s launch, His Excellency Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, emphasized that UAE-China bilateral relations, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Xi Jinping, are witnessing remarkable progress across economic, trade, cultural, political, and diplomatic spheres.
The first UAE-China Think Tank Forum, hosted by the UAE Embassy, has been held in the Chinese capital, Beijing, from August 29 to 30, 2024.
The forum, held under the theme "Together to build a shared, sustainable and ambitious future," witnessed the participation of more than 100 academic, intellectual, and scientific figures from universities, ministries, governmental departments, research institutions, the private sector, and national and international financial institutions from both countries.
Over the course of two days, participants discussed various topics related to enhancing cooperation and partnership between the two nations.
This forum marks a milestone in the bilateral relations between the UAE and China, opening new horizons for collaboration and partnership.
The forum aimed to align academic and research circles on mechanisms to strengthen comprehensive cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as economic and trade exchange, scientific research, culture, and education.
It also sought to provide a platform for collaboration and dialogue between think tanks in the UAE and China, exploring opportunities for joint academic projects between the top think tanks in both countries.
In his remarks, His Excellency Al Hammadi stated: "This forum represents an opportunity to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as trade, education, and culture.
It reflects the depth and strength of our collaborative relationship and our shared commitment to building a more sustainable and prosperous future."
His Excellency added, "Scientific and research cooperation receives special attention from the wise leadership of both nations, and we are committed to providing all means to develop collaboration in these promising fields, benefiting both friendly nations.
Through cooperation in scientific and intellectual research and joint projects, we contribute together to developing solutions to global challenges in renewable energy and other fields."
The forum was held in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the UAE and China in 1984.
These bilateral relations have evolved to reach the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership, announced in July 2018 during the visit of His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, to the UAE.
UAE-China relations received a significant boost following the historic state visit by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Beijing in May 2024, during which numerous agreements and cooperation memoranda were signed between the two sides.
The relationship between the UAE and China is seen as a model of bilateral relations on the global stage. The UAE is China's largest non-oil trading partner in the Arab region, while China is the UAE's number one trading partner, with a trade value of USD 82 billion in 2023.
The volume of trade exchange between the UAE and China has increased by about 800 times since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two parties.
The volume of trade exchange between the two countries is targeted to reach USD 200 billion by 2030.
The forum included four sessions.
The first session was titled "Enhancing Regional and Global Peace through Multilateralism," while the second session focused on trade, logistics, and economic recovery.
The second day of the forum featured a session on technology, the new industrial revolution, education, culture, and tourism. The fourth and final session was dedicated to a brief concluding discussion.
