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China to work with UAE for 'affordable' Covid vaccines

Abu Dhabi - The two countries will establish a mechanism to ease international travel, says Chinese Foreign Minister.

China wants to work with the UAE to expedite joint production of Covid-19 vaccines to make it available and affordable to all, Beijing’s top diplomat has said.

The joint efforts can also explore developing multilateral cooperation to fight the pandemic, especially with Middle Eastern and African countries, and establish an international mechanism to ease people’s travel, added the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, on Saturday.

Yi landed in Abu Dhabi from Iran on Saturday evening for a two-day official visit as part of a regional tour. He will have meetings with top-level Emirati officials during the visit.

Expediting joint vaccine production

"I would like to say that China is making sure to work with the UAE to continue the cooperation between the two countries. First, we will work to expedite the bilateral production of the vaccines in a way that would contribute greatly to making sure the vaccines are available and affordable," he said.

The foreign minister pointed out that the cooperation between China and the UAE has entered a new phase as both parties succeeded in conducting phase III clinical trials on the first inactivated Covid-19 vaccine in the world.

He was referring to the fact that the UAE was the first country in the world to approve Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine on December 9, 2020, after initiating its trial in the country on June 23.

"These efforts did not only benefit the Chinese and UAE people, but the entire world in its fight against the pandemic," he said. "The cooperation between the UAE and China during the Covid-19 pandemic symbolises the deep trust between the two countries."

International travel mechanism

Talking about the second aspect of the cooperation with the UAE, the top Chinese diplomat said: "We will work to explore the avenues for developing multilateral cooperation to fight the pandemic and especially with Middle Eastern and African countries when it comes to the vaccines."

The third part will be working together to establish an international mechanism to exchange the vaccination certificates in a way that would ease people’s travel as part of the precautionary measures to contain the virus, Yi revealed.

UAE’s symbolic solidarity touched hearts of Chinese

"We are confident that because of the bilateral efforts between China and the UAE, there would be more and better results in fighting the pandemic that would also result in a stronger international rhythm," the minister stressed.

Yi appreciated the UAE’s gestures of solidarity with China during the pandemic.

"For example, an encouraging phrase like ‘Stay strong, Wuhan’ was lit up on Burj Khalifa. Also, on China’s national mourning day [for the victims of Covid-19] on April 4, 2020, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, posted tweets on his official account on Twitter in Chinese, English and Arabic, offering his condolences for the Chinese martyrs and victims during this pandemic. (This) step left a great impact in the Chinese people’s hearts," he said.

'Great harmony'

"During this visit, I will meet with Emirati officials to discuss the great harmony between the two countries. We will enhance the balance between China’s endeavours to establish a new development equation and the UAE’s next 50 years development strategy in a way that would strengthen a cooperation based on bilateral benefits and interests," Yi explained.

"We will also deepen the communication and cooperation with the UAE to preserve peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf. We welcome the UAE’s effective and constructive role in the regional affairs."

The UAE is a well-known country in China and the Chinese appreciate the way this country has modernised itself while maintaining traditions, tolerance, coexistence and openness, the foreign minister noted.

The UAE is a close friend of China in the Middle East, the Gulf and Arab and Muslim World.

"It is also a good friend of China to connect and cooperate on the international affairs. The bilateral relations between the two countries are becoming stronger."

Relations centered on creativity and pragmatism

The successful visits and meetings between the Chinse President Xi Jinping and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed reflect a solid political trust, Yi said.

"The consistent bilateral support for the pivotal national interests of the two countries, as well as the solidarity shown during difficult times, have truly embodied the meaning of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," he explained.

The cooperation between China and the UAE has always been about creativity and pragmatism, the minister asserted. "We have been cooperating together on Covid-19 vaccines, conventional energy, the economy, trade, investment, 5G, Big Data, AI and other high-tech tools, and infrastructure."

"The two countries have always wanted to strengthen their cooperation and open up new avenues, which would benefit the two peoples," he continued.

People-to-people ties

More than 220,000 Chinese nationals live in the UAE. In 2019, some two million Chinse tourists visited the UAE, the minister revealed, adding that people-to-people ties have become a bridge of friendship between the two countries.

"As the containment of the current pandemic and precaution measures are progressing, and as Dubai Expo is approaching, we are certain that the UAE would still be an important destination for the Chinese tourists," he said.