The United Arab Emirates has been one of the countries to widely roll out China's Sinopharm vaccine. From the coronavirus to fighting terrorism, the two have upped cooperation in recent years. For more on the relationship, CGTN's Su Yuting recently sat down with the UAE ambassador to China. Ambassador Ali Al Dhaheri said the profound friendship and cooperation between the two countries shines ever-more brightly.

CGTN: How do you evaluate the development of bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE?

Ali: "China formally recognized the fledgling UAE in 1971 and opened the door to strong UAE-China relations, furthered by a historic visit by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to China in 1990. This visit saw his vision deepening contact in all fields, not simply confined to the economy alone. In more recent years, the advanced levels of cooperation flowered more as President Xi Jinping made a state visit to the UAE in July 2018, where together with the UAE Leadership, a Comprehensive Strategic partnership was established. This relationship was refined during the visit to the Belt and Road Forum by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The partnership was deepened still further by the state visit to the People's Republic of China, by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The profound friendship and cooperation between the peoples of China and the UAE shines ever-more brightly today than ever. There are Chinese companies working in Free Zones across the UAE. The UAE hosts the largest Chinese diaspora in the Middle East, and its population is estimated at more than 200,000, which makes them amongst the largest UAE populations. Our country is now a significant hub for business and trade for China and there are 6,000 Chinese companies operating in our country. We see Chinese culture considered ever-more deeply in the UAE, Mandarin can be found written across UAE airports, the largest mall in the world, Dubai Mall, and displayed on landmarks across the UAE in key moments like the recent 2021 new year celebrations. There are also initiatives in place to advance a Chinese Cultural Centre in the UAE. This is part of a bilateral agreement with China, which is in turn also opening a UAE Cultural Centre in Beijing. These centers will be lively centers of culture, inspiring current and future generations to the depth and intricacy of Chinese and Arabic cultures. Such initiatives will elevate people to people understanding and bring a closer relationship across multiple levels between UAE and Chinese peoples. We have also laid the foundations for the future, as the Chinese School Dubai (CSD) becomes the first Chinese curriculum school offering K-12 education outside of China. Already heavily subscribed, this reflects the depth and strength of the ties of friendship and cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the UAE. "

CGTN: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, what cooperative efforts have China, and the UAE made in the fight against COVID-19?

Ali: "In the early stages of the pandemic, the UAE was one of the first donors to offer medical aid to China, providing shipments of face masks and gloves. Compassion and solidarity between the UAE and Chinese leadership was offered by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, who said the UAE was "ready to provide all support to China and cooperate with the international community to tackle this virus". The UAE displayed the Chinese flag on UAE landmarks in an expression of solidarity and support. China's Sinopharm and the UAE's G42 agreed in June 2020 to activate Phase III clinical trials in the UAE, testing it out on volunteers to ensure the vaccine is safe. The first Phase III trials of an inactivated vaccine for COVID-19 in the United Arab Emirates were among the largest in the world, with volunteer recruitment having reached more than 30,000 vaccinated volunteers from more than 120 nationalities in only six weeks. This led to the approval of the vaccine with the UAE's national health, citing an 86 percent efficacy rate. The Sinopharm vaccine has now been widely rolled out across the Emirates, which has contributed towards the 3 million vaccine doses administered across the Emirates. The program has also contributed towards the doses per people achieving 31.49 per 100, the second-highest rate on the globe. "

CGTN: At present, international and regional security is still a daunting challenge. How will China and the UAE join hands to combat terrorism and extremist forces to maintain international and regional peace and stability?

Ali: "The United Arab Emirates considers terrorism as a global scourge that transcends national borders, which has caused the spread of extremism and exacerbation of security and humanitarian crises in the region and the world, and the occurrence of many losses of lives, and tremendous damage to the infrastructure and economies of countries, examples of that are many. The UAE stresses the importance of eliminating the scourge of terrorism by strengthening international efforts within the framework of the four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Both countries, the UAE and China, believe that the international community should cooperate in combating terrorism in accordance with the United Nations Charter, international law, and other universally recognized rules. The wise leadership of the two countries intends to enhance cooperation in the field of combating terrorism in order to establish stability internationally and regionally especially because of what's happening in the world in general and in the Arab world in particular."