China’s president to visit UAE next week

The UAE is set to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping next Thursday for his first state visit since being reelected, state news agency WAM confirmed.

A Chinese delegation will visit the country from July 19 to 21 and undertake activities including a UAE China investment forum on the evening of July 20, details of which were tweeted by the Ministry of Economy.

The agenda of The UAE- China Economic Forum that will be held in #AbuDhabi on Friday 20th of July 2018, in the presence of HE. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Economy and HE. Zhong Shan, Minister of Commerce of PR.#MinistryofEconomy #MoE #Economics #China #UAE pic.twitter.com/GZ1ySoc4I8

— Ministry Of Economy (@Economyae) July 12, 2018

He will also meet with UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and boost strategic cooperation.

Earlier this week, China pledged $20bn of loans and $106m of financial aid to the Middle East during a visit by Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Read: China’s President pledges $20bn in loans to revive Middle East

The country has strengthened ties with the UAE in recent years through investments in ports and oil infrastructure under its ‘belt and road’ initiative.

Read: Abu Dhabi industrial zone attracts $1bn investment from China

Ahead of the visit, UAE minister of state and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) group CEO Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber was in China this week to discuss deepening investment partnerships with Chinese oil, gas and petrochemical firms.

A partnership announced last week will see a Chinese firm work with the government of Abu Dhabi to convert desert into farmland.

Read: Abu Dhabi partners with Chinese firm to convert desert into farmland

Trade exchange between the two countries grew 15.1 per cent last year from $46.3bn in 2016 to $53.3bn in 2017.