Chinese Premier Li Qiang cements ties with Saudi Arabia, UAE, including on new energy

China hopes deeper economic cooperation with the two Gulf states can ‘catalyse’ such collaborations with the Middle East, observer says

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during an official reception in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Thursday. Photo: Handout via Reuters

Published: 2:00pm, 14 Sep 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang returned from his visit to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates on Friday after forging closer ties with both Gulf states.

Pledges for closer cooperation included the new energy sector, described by a Chinese analyst as “crucial” to the Middle Eastern economy.

Li travelled to the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday evening after wrapping up a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia. He met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the capital Abu Dhabi the following day, with both leaders pledging to enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership between their countries.

According to a readout from the Chinese foreign ministry, Li called for deeper cooperation in new energy, electric vehicles, high-end manufacturing, biomedicine, digital economy and other fields, and for reinforcing collaboration in investment and traditional sectors like oil and gas.

“The two countries should jointly make a forward-looking layout of emerging industries and future industries, and cultivate more new economic growth points,” Li was quoted as saying during what was his first visit to the UAE since taking office.

His trip came three months after Sheikh Mohamed’s state visit to China and meeting with President Xi Jinping, when both sides vowed closer cooperation, including in cutting-edge technologies.