UAE chairs ministerial meeting between GCC and China

The UAE chaired a meeting between the foreign ministers of GCC countries and China on Monday to discuss trade and increased co-operation.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, chaired the virtual meeting with Dr Nayef Al Hajraf, GCC Secretary-General, and Wang Yi, China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, in attendance.

The meeting began with a tribute to the former Kuwaiti emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed, who died in late September, before Sheikh Abdullah went on to commend the GCC’s work with China.

“We look forward to enhance these relations in all possible ways in a manner that would ensure and realise the interests of both sides,” he said.

Sheikh Abdullah thanked China for inviting ambassadors from the GCC and around the world to visit several of the country’s regions, including Xinjiang “to learn about China’s efforts in the development and protection of ethnic minorities.”

He also said China had worked with the GCC to combat the spread of Covid-19 by providing medication and equipment.

Trade between China and the GCC has grown over 10 times from about $16.3 billion in 2001 to about $167.7bn in 2018, reported state news agency Wam.

“We meet today with hope to further co-operation in different fields, including education, artificial intelligence, industry, health, agriculture and food, and human development. In addition to creating frameworks for co-operation in the fields of social and youth, the empowerment of women, the environment and climate,” Sheikh Abdullah said.

He said the GCC was working to de-escalate tension in the Arab Gulf region and establish peace in Yemen.

“I would like to highlight the fact that the GCC countries seek peace everywhere, and in this context they support ceasefire and reaching peaceful solutions to all issue. They also applaud the joint work with China at the bilateral and collective levels in a way that serves stability, peace and development in the world,” said Sheikh Abdullah.

Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation and a number of top GCC and Chinese officials attended the meeting.