UAE-China relations on upward track

Relations between the UAE and China are on a sound footing. The prestige of dealing with an economic powerhouse such as China is not lost on the UAE.

Ni Jian, Chinese Ambassador to the UAE, showered praise on the UAE’s sterling achievements over the past 50 years, noting that it has become the “Pearl of the Middle East.”

The compliment from China is particularly relevant, as the nation has come a long way since the establishment of the new China in 1949. It has a GDP of at least $14.7 trillion, and that is something that cannot be ignored.

Little wonder then that the country is seeking fresh avenues of investment to enhance its global economic cachet.

China’s standing has grown considerably over the years. Also, there are several countries, whose economy has been battered by the coronavirus, who look upon the nation as a financial saviour.

A recent report said India would clear the decks for investment proposals from China, which could probably include those from Great Wall Motor and SAIC Motor Corp.

Clearly economic compulsions seem to trump the political power play, after a standoff between the two nations over troop incursions in the Himalayas.

However, during the rage of the coronavirus, if there is one thing that is noteworthy, it is the fact that China has stood by the UAE to help stem the damaging impact of the pandemic, particularly on the economy.

China, it needs to be mentioned, is the UAE’s leading commercial partner.

The cooperation between the two countries is in a host of areas, including renewable energy

The UAE is the first country in the world to approve the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine after initiating its trial in the country on 23rd June 2020.

As a tribute that the UAE cares for China, it put up a sign on Burj Khalifa saying, ‘Stay strong, Wuhan’ in Chinese which was lit up on the iconic building.  The city of Wuhan has been charged by the United States for being the cradle of the coronavirus.

Also, in a heartfelt message for the victims of the coronavirus in China last year, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed posted tweets on his official account in several languages including Chinese. This moved the Chinese people considerably.

The bonding between the UAE and China is real and solid. With the 50 years’ celebrations coming up, China will always occupy a special place in the hearts of the people in the UAE.

China has made stupendous strides in both the economic and military field over the past 40 years, particularly after the decline in the Nineties of the Soviet Union that put an end to the Cold War.

China is a lucrative source of investment – for example in US government bonds. However, China is viewed by the West as a threat to global stability.

But China being what it is, it seems to have amazing resilience.

China’s re-emergence in the political and economic domains may rattle the West. The country was for centuries one of the most influential economies on earth.

According to a report by OECD, Chinese per capita income was pretty high, much more than that of Europe from the 10th century to the early 15th century. It was the world’s biggest economy for several centuries thereafter.

The bonding between the UAE and China is on an upward trajectory. And with the Expo 2020 coming up, China’s role is going to be in the spotlight once again, as it always is. According to one report, China will participate in the Expo 2020 Dubai through a pretty large pavilion, under the theme, “China Light.”