6. UAE and the Belt and Road Initiative
The Gulf region is an important stop on the ancient Maritime Silk Road, and it has a natural geographical advantage in co-building the “Belt and Road” initiative. The two countries have strong economic complementarities. In the past 30 years, the scope and scale of cooperation have continued to expand, and there is a common will to continue to deepen cooperation in the future. Therefore, the construction of the "Belt and Road" by China-Arab States has sufficient conditions. At present, the UAE has a positive attitude towards participating in the construction of the “Belt and Road”, and has expressed its in-depth study of the document “Visions and Actions for Promoting the Joint Construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road” issued by China to promote the development strategy of the two countries.
From the geographical point of view, the UAE, as the east gate of the Middle East, intersects with China's west exports, and both sides have the prerequisites to achieve road connectivity and smooth trade. From the political and security situation, both countries have been in a stable political situation and a better security situation for a long time. Although the Middle East region where the UAE is located is one of the currently turbulent regions in the world, the UAE is one of them.
In terms of economic conditions, both countries have strong economic capabilities: The UAE is rich in oil and natural gas resources, both of which have the seventh largest reserves in the world, and have a high degree of economic diversification and little dependence on energy. Over the past 40 years of China's reform and opening up, the economy has developed rapidly and steadily, and it has leapt into the world's second largest economy.
From the perspective of economic needs, the two countries have strong economic complementarities: China imports energy sources such as oil and gas from the UAE, and exports capital, technology, and labor services to the UAE to help the UAE achieve its goal of building a smart city.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed ’s idea of “revitalizing the Silk Road” coincides with China ’s “Belt and Road” initiative. Azerbaijan ’s “eastward” strategy aims to promote domestic economic development and interconnection with regional countries. The UAE is an important regional aviation, shipping, tourism, finance and re-export trade center, which has a radiating effect on the surrounding area. China has cooperated with the UAE's traditional industries for many years. In recent years, it has also launched a series of pragmatic cooperation in high-tech fields such as communications, renewable energy, and environmental protection.
In September 2017, Ning Jizhe, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, attended the construction and lease signing ceremony of COSCO Shipping Abu Dhabi Terminal
The China-Arab Capacity Cooperation Park is a major cooperation project between President Jinping and the leaders of Afghanistan on deepening the “Belt and Road” pragmatic cooperation. In September 2017, it was confirmed by the National Development and Reform Commission as the first “Belt and Road” capacity cooperation park in China. The park is located in the Khalifa Industrial Zone in Abu Dhabi, UAE, with a starting area of 2.2 square kilometers and a reserved area of 10 square kilometers. So far, 10 companies have signed agreements of intent to enter the park, with a total investment of about 3.4 billion yuan. The park is expected to start construction in January 2018.
In addition, both China and Afghanistan have a subjective desire for cooperation and development. Both China and the UAE are committed to the cause of peace and development. They also uphold the development concept of opening up to the outside world and inclusiveness and diversity. China regards the UAE as an important partner country along the “Belt and Road” and hopes to further expand cooperation areas, enrich cooperation content and expand cooperation scale on the basis of existing cooperation. At the end of 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping and the UAE Crown Prince jointly formulated a roadmap for the development of bilateral relations. UAE government officials, business representatives, experts and scholars have expressed their welcome and support for the “Belt and Road” initiative on different occasions. They believe that this concept is in-depth with its domestic development plan. The UAE has reason and ability to adopt the “Belt and Road” initiative. Give play to its own advantages and roles in construction, and join hands with countries along the route to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.
The common will, good cooperation foundation and existing cooperation scale provide a huge space and broad prospects for the two parties to further pragmatic cooperation. The two sides will combine their respective advantages, fully mobilize various resources, identify key areas of cooperation, and promote the construction of the “Belt and Road” to achieve new results in the UAE at an early date.
