Natural partners on Belt and Road

President Xi Jinping's recent visit to the United Arab Emirates, the first visit by a Chinese head of state to the Arab country in 29 years, enhanced the level of pragmatic cooperation between the two countries to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Broad consensuses were reached on bilateral cooperation in nine areas, which will strengthen the long-term economic, cultural, trade and investment ties between the two countries.

The UAE was the first Gulf state to establish a strategic partnership with China, and their fruitful cooperation in energy, finance, production capacity and high technology over the past decades has provided the necessary political mutual trust for the two countries to promote the continuous development of bilateral ties to a higher level.