The Sino-UAE diplomatic relations, based on the spirit of collaboration and mutual respect, have notably strengthened over recent years, said Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to China.

He made the remarks on the UAE 52nd Union Day celebration, recently held in Beijing, with the presence of government officials and business representatives from different countries. Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Deng Li also attended the activity.

Today, China is the UAE's top global trading partner, said the ambassador, citing the surge in bilateral non-oil trade in 2022, which reached an impressive annual growth rate of 18 percent.

Last year, the non-oil trade exchange between the UAE and China surpassed $72 billion, approximately 800 times the amount since the establishment of Sino-UAE relations in 1984, according to statistics from the UAE side.

Meanwhile, the UAE is now China's top trading partner in the Arab world and the Gulf region, ranking first among Arab countries in the top 20 nations where China invests, he added.

The Sino-UAE bilateral relations reached a level of comprehensive strategic partnership in 2018, and 2024 will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties.

The UAE is also set to join the BRICS group in 2024. The UAE is committed to multilateral action and constructive dialogue supported through effective platforms representing developing and emerging economies at an international level, said the ambassador.

Currently, the UAE is hosting the UN climate change conference in Dubai, and its efforts in preparing for the conference have won appreciation from China.

China Daily