Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to China, said he would closely follow China's annual "two sessions," a key event in the country's political calendar.

Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to China. [Photo courtesy of the UAE Embassy in Beijing]

Al Dhaheri said in an exclusive interview with China.org.cn that since China optimized its COVID-19 response, the country has quickly reopened to the world, ushering in a new era of opportunities for economic development.

"As the main engine of global growth, China's reopening could well prove to be the most consequential and far-reaching economic success story of this year," Al Dhaheri said. "So, I, along with many others, look forward to learning about China's plans for the recovery, and the 'two sessions' will be an important window into this."

The 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opened their first sessions in Beijing on March 5 and 4, respectively.

During what is collectively known as the "2023 two sessions," a set of social and economic development goals for the year and beyond are to be released, including the annual GDP growth target, along with various policy measures to achieve them.

Al Dhaheri said he would pay particular attention to topics relating to science, technological innovation, "dual circulation" and common prosperity, as previously emphasized at the 20th CPC National Congress.

The ambassador's focus reflects the significant progress in China-UAE ties and the broader prospects of bilateral practical cooperation.

Al Dhaheri said the UAE is China's largest non-oil trade partner in the Middle East and North Africa region, and China is the UAE's largest trade partner overall. 

"Our two countries' trade ties are close and well-integrated, while our bilateral economic partnership has resulted in a number of remarkable achievements," he said.

According to the ambassador, two-way trade between China and the UAE has reached $234 billion over the last five years, and between 2018 and 2021, trade in non-oil products grew especially formidably, by 40%, from $43 billion to over $60 billion.

Al Dhaheri said as one of the first countries to join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the UAE now serves as a key logistics hub for the BRI and an important gateway for 60% of China's trade in the region.

Beyond trade, the UAE and China also work together to build open, innovative and vibrant economies, which transform the livelihoods of the two peoples through science and technology, the ambassador added.

"In the coming years, I would expect to see further initiatives take shape between our two countries — innovative new programs to facilitate foreign investment, especially in green technologies," he said. 

Talking about China's development, Al Dhaheri said during the past 74 years [since the founding of the People's Republic of China], the country has made remarkable achievements in raising its GDP per capita, improving literacy, health and average life expectancy, alleviating poverty and securing long-range economic growth.

"Today, China is in many ways leading the world in pioneering innovation across all sorts of industries. As a close friend of China, the UAE is proud of this country's exceptional achievements and of the indomitable spirit of the Chinese people," the ambassador said.

"The UAE is also a beneficiary of China's peaceful rise, as we have witnessed burgeoning trade and investment from China, which I am confident will continue to flourish in the future," he added. 

The ambassador took up his Beijing-based post in 2017. Reviewing his five-year tenure, Al Dhaheri said he has had a front-row seat to China's economic miracle.

"I have been fortunate enough to visit many places across this vast country, from high-tech metropolis to the desert wilderness, experiencing everything from China's cutting-edge innovation, to its pioneering efforts in ecological conservation," he said. 

"On my journeys, I have met people from all walks of life, from the ordinary Chinese citizens who form the backbone of this country's spirited dynamism, to the visionary policymakers and ingenious entrepreneurs who steer China's long-term development; in all cases, I have been invariably taken by the kindness of the Chinese people and their hospitable ways," the ambassador recounted.

Al Dhaheri said as the UAE ambassador to China, he is privileged to play a role in nurturing and facilitating the comprehensive and ever-growing cooperation between the two countries.

"I look forward to seeing more and more cooperation between our peoples, across broader and more exciting fields, for years to come," he said.