Fifty-one-year ago, the world saw a new nation arise from the desert in one of the oldest continually inhabited places on earth. This extraordinary land, uniquely positioned at the eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula as a gateway to the wider Middle East and Central Asia, has been at the crossroads of countless civilizations since the dawn of human history. The 20th century brought with it the discoveries of natural riches, paving the way for the beginnings of rapid, transformational development; yet it is this land’s perennial position at the heart of overlapping trade routes and interacting cultures that would become intrinsically woven into the new nation’s DNA.

In December 1971, the dream of national unification was realized, when six of seven autonomous emirates were brought together into one federation, spearheaded by the visionary leadership of the country’s founding father and first president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The United Arab Emirates was born. Today, the Emiratis commemorate the nation’s founding day and reflect on its remarkable journey in the decades since.

Rapid economic development, industrial diversification, technological innovation, and the benefits of trade - these are some of the remarkable fruits that can be borne as a nation seeks to find its place in a dynamic, globalized world. Perhaps no other country has embraced this transformative zeitgeist of the last several decades with as much dramatic success as China. This nation’s meteoric rise and development has run in parallel with the UAE’s incredible modernization story, overlapping repeatedly along the way.

For over 38 years, since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UAE and China, the two countries have been active participants in each other’s successes. The friendship between two countries is based on mutual respect and a shared vision of the future. As such, we are rightly proud of each other’s achievements; and as the UAE’s ambassador to China, I am happy to share some of these phenomenal achievements that my country has accomplished, while maintaining its commitment as an active stakeholder in an ever-changing world.

Like our friends in China, the UAE’s leadership believes in setting ambitious, long-term goals. In recognition of our nation’s landmark Golden Jubilee last year, our government unveiled the comprehensive "Principles of the 50" roadmap, laying out the strategic framework for the country’s future development in the decades to come. This year has already witnessed numerous successes, and with the newly launched “We The UAE 2031” initiative, the nation is steadily approaching a new phase of growth and development. Under the leadership of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE and its people are building a future of unity, sustainability, and prosperity.

Over the years, the UAE has enhanced its reputation and position on the international stage, playing a leading role in promoting economic prosperity, prioritizing relations between peoples, and ensuring regional stability. As a reward for its efforts, the UAE presided over the United Nations Security Council earlier this year and continues to serve as an elected member of the Council, working alongside China to address the most pressing global issues facing us today. The UAE leadership believes in supporting multilateralism and seeking cooperative partnerships, in an effort to reduce geopolitical tensions for a more cohesive global community.

As a responsible global citizen, the UAE’s contributions to international issues expand across various fields, including international aid, food security, human rights protection, and more. From January 2021 to August 2022, the UAE provided more than $3.5 billion in foreign aid. Recently, the UAE offered $15 million of funding for the implementation of the UN Women, Peace and Security Agenda, within the nation and around the world.

In addition, the UAE has played a vital role in the “Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate” initiative, investing in the development of sustainable and innovative global food systems that are resistant to the effects of climate change. Moreover, the UAE initiated “Net Zero by 2050” for climate protection, followed by a series of groundbreaking projects. As the host of COP28 next year, the UAE will further demonstrate our commitment and leadership in combating climate change in the Middle East and North Africa, and beyond.

Domestically, the UAE has also made phenomenal progress. The strategic goals within the “Projects of the 50” framework have enabled the successful diversification and globalization of the country’s economy. Non-oil foreign trade recorded a growth of 27 percent in 2021, totaling nearly $518 billion. This continued into 2022, with non-oil trade value in excess of $272 billion for the first six months of this year alone. Embracing the ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution, the UAE has dramatically transformed its digital economy, and has focused on pioneering artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies, which has also meant establishing the world’s first dedicated AI-focused university in Abu Dhabi. Technological innovation is gradually replacing oil as the fuel that drives the UAE’s economy. This is not just a quantitative improvement that we see reflected in the figures - it is qualitative too, with the principle of sustainability rooted at the heart of this transition.

On this occasion, I would like to express my special appreciation to China and to my dear Chinese friends. We all know that our friendship is long-standing and deep, but above all it continues to develop along a positive trajectory. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership initiated by our countries’ leaders in 2018 has taken this relationship into a new paradigm. With constructive cooperation in the fields of economics, financial services, science and technology, as well as our various cultural exchanges, our two countries enjoy an ongoing and fruitful reciprocity. China is our largest trading partner. The value of our bilateral trade has totalled some $234 billion over the last five years. China’s investment stock of $9.3 billion ensures the UAE’s position as China’s largest market across the Middle East and North Africa for non-oil trade.

As the UAE’s ambassador to China, it is an honor for me to facilitate the comprehensive cooperation between our two nations, which will continue to flourish in the years ahead. I look forward to seeing the fruits of further mutually-beneficial collaboration, in which both nations will, through their joint efforts, build a future of hope, prosperity, and sustainability for mankind.

The author is an ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to China.

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