Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Beijing on Thursday.

Xi noted that the UAE is a comprehensive strategic partner of China. In recent years, China-UAE relations have maintained a solid momentum of development, setting a good example for relations between China and Arab states in the new era.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the UAE, Xi said, adding that it is an important juncture for China-UAE relations to build on past achievements and move forward.

China is ready to work with the UAE to continue understanding the overall direction of bilateral relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective and ensure the vigorous development of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, according to the Chinese president.

Xi stated that China supports the UAE in pursuing an independent development path and safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and national development interests and is willing to consolidate political mutual trust and strengthen cooperation with the UAE to jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

He affirmed that China is ready to work with the UAE to continuously promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, intensify the synergy of development strategies, and leverage the establishment of a high-level committee on China-UAE investment and cooperation as an opportunity to push for more outcomes in bilateral cooperation.

Xi urged both sides to consolidate cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, and infrastructure, expand cooperation in high-tech fields such as information technology, artificial intelligence, digital economy, and new energy, and strengthen cooperation in law enforcement and security.

Xi emphasized that he recently responded to letters from Chinese language teaching students in the UAE, encouraging them to master the language, learn more about China, and contribute to promoting friendship between the two countries.

China is willing to continue supporting the "Hundred Schools Project" for Chinese language teaching, promote the construction of a Chinese cultural center in the UAE, increase people-to-people exchanges, and promote mutual understanding and friendship, he added.

Noting that the trend toward a multipolar world is unstoppable, Xi said that multipolarization, in its essence, should mean mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among different civilizations, systems, and paths.

Middle Eastern countries are an important part of developing countries and an important force in the multipolarization of the world, he noted, adding that China supports countries in the region in continuing to follow their development paths suitable to their national conditions, firmly following the path of unity and strength, peace and reconciliation, resolving differences through communication and consultation, and holding their future and destiny in their own hands.

According to Xi, China is ready to work with the UAE and other Arab countries to host the second China-Arab States Summit and promote the building of a community with a shared future between China and the Arab States.

China is willing to strengthen its strategic partnership with the UAE, expand multilateral cooperation, and safeguard the common interests of Southern countries, he added.

Mohamed said he was very happy to visit China once again, his second homeland, and participate in the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum together with President Xi.

He emphasized that relations between Arab and Gulf countries and China have a solid foundation. Deepening and developing relations with China are in line with the common aspiration and fundamental interests of the peoples of Arab and Gulf countries.

According to Mohamed, UAE-China relations are based on mutual trust, mutual respect, and common interests, and cooperation in various fields has reached an extraordinary level.

The UAE attaches great importance to developing relations with China, places China at the top of its diplomatic priorities, and regards China as a reliable and long-term strategic partner, Mohamed noted, adding that the UAE is willing to take the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to deepen and further expand cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, investment, energy, science and technology, education, and culture.

The UAE government firmly adheres to the One-China policy, opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form, and supports China's efforts to achieve national reunification, he stressed.

Mohamed highlighted that the UAE greatly appreciates and actively supports the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi, will continue to actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, and is willing to work closely with China in multilateral communication and coordination to promote peace, development, and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Xi emphasized that the top priority is a comprehensive ceasefire and cessation of hostilities to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and that the international community should unanimously support an early negotiated resolution of the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution.

Xi said that China and the UAE share the same position on the Palestinian issue and should work together to push for a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution to the issue.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in various fields, including investment, joint construction of the Belt and Road, science and technology, peaceful use of nuclear energy, Chinese language teaching, culture, and tourism.

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