The decision between China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to upgrade their bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership has opened up a brand new chapter for the two sides, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, adding that the two nations will retain all-round and high-quality development. 

President Xi made the remarks when meeting with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Great Hall of the People. 

Recalling his state visit last July to the Arab state, President Xi hailed the diplomatic ties between the two countries.  

We share far-reaching goals that can well benefit each other, and that relationship can be a model for strategic cooperation between countries of different cultures and types, said President Xi. 

The Chinese leader also pointed out that a joint declaration between the two sides on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership will be issued during the crown prince's visit to China. He vowed to work with the crown prince, and better benefit the peoples of the two nations. 

President Xi noted that China and the UAE should deepen political mutual trust and strategic communication, and that China regards the UAE as an important strategic partner in the Middle East.

China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the UAE and firmly uphold multilateralism, fairness and justice, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi.

Xi urged both sides to jointly construct the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with high quality and strengthen alignment with each other's development strategy, adding that the two sides should strive for the goal of 200 billion U.S. dollars in bilateral trade by 2030 and consolidate and expand the long-term, stable and comprehensive strategic cooperation in the energy sector.

Stressing that peace and stability in the Gulf area is of great significance to the security and development of the Middle East and the world as a whole, the Chinese president said the region should continue to be an "oasis of security" rather than a new "source of turbulence."

For his part, the crown prince gave his congratulations for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and said that the UAE believes in the bright prospect of China's development and regards deepening the China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership as its diplomatic priority.

He stressed that UAE will always stay as China's best strategic partner no matter how the international situations change.

The crown prince said UAE will continue to give firm support to China's core interests and major concerns, and pledged that his country will more actively participate in the joint construction of BRI so as to increase regional connectivity and boost global economy. 

The UAE is willing to work with China to explore third-party markets, expanding its trade, investment and energy supply to China, said Mohammed, adding his country will also deepen cooperation with China in areas such as finance, technology, aviation and people-to-people exchanges.

He said the UAE highly praises China's efforts in protecting the rights and interests of the ethnic minorities and facilitating ethnic unity and harmony, vowing to strengthen security cooperation with China to jointly safeguard national security and regional peace.

The UAE firmly supports Chinese President Xi Jinping's great proposal of a community with a shared future for mankind, praising China's policies in the Middle East region and the Gulf region and looking forward to an increasingly important role for China in safeguarding the security and stability of the region, said the crown prince.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also met with Sheikh Mohammed on Monday. Li said China welcomes the UAE's sovereign wealth fund and private funds to invest more in China, adding that China is willing to advance free trade negotiations with Gulf Cooperation Council countries including the UAE. 

Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE has "full confidence" in the development prospects of the Chinese economy and is willing to deepen cooperation with China in areas such as energy, finance, science and technology as well as aviation.

(Cover: Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) holds a welcome ceremony for Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates, in Beijing, July 22, 2019. /Xinhua Photo)