The GCC states and China have agreed on a four-year joint plan of action to enhance their strategic partnership, according to a statement released on Friday.
The statement was the result of the inaugural China-GCC summit, which took place in Riyadh in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping, hours after the Gulf Co-operation Council held its 43rd meeting.
The participants agreed to strengthen co-operation on economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic and "ensure flexibility on supply chains, food security and green energy" as well as space and health.
They expressed their support for the one-China policy.
“Sino-Gulf relations are based on mutual trust,” Mr Xi said, adding that a China-GCC investment council will be established.
“We must strengthen co-operation and trust, support multi-polarity, and not interfere in others' affairs. Our relations reflect support for multi-polarity and joint co-operation,” he said.
Participants also called for Iran's "full co-operation" with the UN nuclear watchdog "to ensure the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme".
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman stressed the need for enhanced co-operation among Gulf states.
“The vision of King Salman helped to accelerate the development and co-operation between members of the Gulf Co-operation Council,” Prince Mohammed said in his opening speech at the GCC summit.
“We intend on presenting a new vision to promote close ties with Gulf states that will result in the achievement of the desired goals,” he said.
Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, is leading the UAE delegation to the annual summit of Arab Gulf nations.
Mr Xi said his country welcomed the participation of the GCC in the Global Security Initiative he proposed earlier this year.
On energy, the Chinese leader vowed to promote co-operation with the GCC in the “clean energy and smart energy grids”.
Among the GCC leaders attending the meeting were Bahrain's King Hamad, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim, Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister of Oman Sayyid Fahd Al Said.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his delegation arrived on Thursday for Friday's China-Arab summit. They were welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Deputy Governor of Riyadh.
Also arriving in Riyadh were Sudan’s Sovereign Council head Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani.
Tunisia’s President Kais Saied and Libya’s Presidency Council head Mohamed Al Menfi also landed in the Saudi capital.
Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and Lebanese caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati are also expected to attend the summit.
Mr Xi, who is expected to stay in Saudi Arabia until Saturday, earlier said he was pleased to visit the kingdom for the first time since 2016 and extended his “sincere greetings and best wishes” to the government and people.
“King Salman and I are leading bilateral relations to achieve great development and have strongly contributed to the promotion of peace, stability, prosperity and development in the region,” he said.
The Chinese leader said he was looking forward to the summits with Gulf and Arab leaders.
This visit is only Mr Xi's third overseas trip since the outbreak of Covid-19 in late 2019.
The pandemic has heavily affected China's international trade due to strict entry requirements.
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Scorecard
Scotland 220
K Coetzer 95, J Siddique 3-49, R Mustafa 3-35
UAE 224-3 in 43,5 overs
C Suri 67, B Hameed 63 not out
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, Friday, March 29, 5pm at The Sevens, Dubai
