Expo 2020 Dubai highlighted at UAE celebration in Beijing
- By Zhang Rui
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E-mail China.org.cn, December 3, 2019
The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to China hosted a celebration of the UAE's 48th National Day in Beijing on Monday, where Expo 2020 Dubai was highlighted as the UAE ambassador spoke about the first expo to be held in the Middle East and South Asia.
Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, the UAE ambassador to China, said in his speech, "This year saw a deepening of 'comprehensive strategic partnership' between our nations."
In April, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation; in July, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, visited China, and the two countries signed many agreements and MoUs during his visit.
2019 is a particularly momentous year as it has greatly advanced the China-UAE relationship in many areas. Technology advancement has seen a strong progression; for example, the Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence features Chinese academia and Chinese businessmen upon its board. The university will deliver great strides toward understanding and advancements in artificial intelligence. In sectors such as logistics, the Chinese wholesale company Yiwu Market will now be involved in a new 5.5 million-square-meter logistics station, the "Traders Market." This station will store and ship Chinese goods from the Jebel Ali port to the rest of the world and will be close to the Expo 2020 Dubai site.
"The strong bonds between our civilizations have a long-lasting foundation dating back to the ancient Silk Road. As the UAE-China relationship is precious, these ties are embodied in the priceless 1,400-year-old camel that is carved out of green-jade, and it is on display today. The camel dates back to the Tang Dynasty. We are now renewing these bonds for the modern era, as we build up from $70 billion in China-UAE bilateral trade flows, targeting $100 billion by 2020 and $200 billion by 2030," said the ambassador.
Zhai Jun, Chinese special envoy on Middle East affairs, said at the celebration that China and the UAE have achieved fruitful results in the building of the Belt and Road initiative. The two countries have conducted extensive and in-depth cooperation in the fields of energy, economy, trade, finance, investment, infrastructure, and high technology. He added, China is willing to "work with the UAE to accelerate the implementation of the important consensus by leaders of the two countries, advance practical cooperation and friendly exchanges in various fields within the framework of the joint building of the Belt and Road projects, and continue to write a new chapter of China-Arab friendly cooperation."
A video outlining Expo 2020 Dubai was shown to the audience, along with a video of the Chinese Pavilion themed "building a community with a shared future for humanity - innovation and opportunity." These videos were presented by Zhang Shenfeng, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).
"China attaches great importance to Expo 2020 Dubai and will participate in the Expo with an extra-large pavilion covering an area of 4,636 square meters," Zhang said. "The China Pavilion will focus on the exhibition of China's innovative scientific and technological achievements in the fields of information, technology, transportation, and more."
According to him, core exhibitions, such as the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), BeiDou Satellite, 5G technology, and artificial intelligence, will be exhibited for the first time in the China Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai; high-speed rail simulator, intelligent network vehicles, and many others will also showcase "smart travel" through innovative forms.
"The opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai will be held in less than 11 months, and the China Pavilion has entered an important construction period. We are confident that, with the joint efforts of China and the United Arab Emirates, the China Pavilion will be a great success at Expo 2020 Dubai and play an important role in promoting all-round exchanges and cooperation between the two countries," Zhang said.
The celebration also featured several performances, including UAE ambassador's two younger daughters, Sara and Mira, who sang the traditional Chinese song "Jasmine Flower" in Mandarin, alongside Chinese children from the National Children's Center. A Chinese theater group also danced to the iconic Chinese song. The celebration also featured Emirati culture, including Al Ayala, the traditional UAE dance, with dancers coming from the UAE to participate in the National Day celebration. There were also musical performances using traditional Chinese musical instruments by the Chinese Folk Orchestra and the Central Conservatory of Music.
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