Youth eye exchanges and cooperation between China and Gulf countries

The 4th China-Gulf Forum (CGF) kicked off in the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) capital city, Abu Dhabi, on Saturday, which has provided the youth from China and the Gulf region a platform to share their insights on cooperation.

At the opening ceremony, the Chinese Ambassador to the UAE, Zhang Yiming, delivered a keynote speech. Noting the bilateral cooperation between China and the Gulf country in multiple fields, Zhang encouraged the youth to contribute their wisdom and bring the traditional friendship to a higher level.

As this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE, students from China and the Gulf country are looking forward to more opportunities for people-to-people exchanges.

"I am thinking of studying in China to continue my master's because I heard they have amazing programs over there," Hamdan Jaroor, student at NYU Abu Dhabi who is also a team member of the CGF, told CGTN. "I just love Chinese culture."

Another Emirati student Abdulmalek Alhakem, who won the UAE championship of Chinese Bridge in 2020, shared his view: "China and the UAE have a long history of relationship in art, trade and in many things, so I think we will have a bright future together."

Noting an increasing number of people visiting China from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Chinese Co-chair of the forum, Lin Xiangyu, said this is the right time to facilitate this conversation, especially among the youth.

Launched in 2019, the CGF is the first student-led platform in the region to bring scholars, business leaders and cultural specialists from diverse backgrounds together to discuss the relations between China and the Gulf.