With its non-oil sector now dominating more than 75 percent of its GDP, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has affirmed that Hong Kong continues to be an “important hub” for the Arab nation as it seeks to deepen talent exchanges and education ties, a visiting government official told a forum on Thursday.
Mohammed Ibrahim Al Dhaheri, director of the Strategy and Future Department at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said they looked to the whole of China, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, for more connectivity — something that is important to both nations.
Al Dhaheri, who is also deputy director general of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, spoke at a fireside chat, titled “The UAE's Foreign Policy: Building Bridges, Shaping the Future", hosted by the Asia Society. He is on his first visit to the SAR and will be visiting the University of Hong Kong with the aim of encouraging more Emiratis to study in the city, and vice versa.
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When it comes to the UAE's cultural and artistic policy, he said these areas are a hub connecting businesses, and government relations are equally important. Despite future changes in governments and to some policies, he said for the UAE and cooperative partners, “there will always be hidden opportunities" and the question to ask is, how “we can benefit (from) the situation".
“China and the UAE can build on each other's strengths when it comes to connectivity,” said the UAE government official, adding representatives of the country have been meeting with Chinese businesses, which he said also have their own strategies and open-door discussions.
He also reiterated that when it comes to his country's foreign policy, the UAE is a country that “speaks to all countries”, whether that be about conflicts, politics, the economy or cooperation.
He noted that the president of the UAE made 30 presidential visits outside the country last year, including to China.
“We're trying to play a bigger role and be part of (the) solution,” said Al Dhaheri, adding that the UAE has been “heavily engaging with the mediation efforts” when it comes to the region's conflicts.
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Al Dhaheri cited the conflicts in the Middle East — particularly the situation in Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the civil war in Sudan — to highlight the UAE's active role as a mediator, along with other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, ASEAN, BRICS nations, the China-initiated Belt and Road Initiative, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the G20 bloc, among others.
Contact the writer at jan@chinadailyapac.com
