Closing Remarks by H.E.Ou Boqian,
Consul General of China in Dubai
in the Dubai Forum
( October 23, 2024)
Distinguished guests, dear friends,
Good afternoon!
It is my pleasure to join you for the closing ceremony of the Dubai Forum. Today, we gather to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE, and to look forward to a brighter future for our partnership. First,on behalf of all the co-organizers, I’d like to express my gratitude to all the speakers and panelists for sharing with us your insights, and my thanks also go to all the participants, for your active involvement and strong support.
Today’s event has been truly remarkable, with so many distinguished guests, engaging in discussions on important topics. We’ve put so much into the Dubai Forum, because as we review the past 40 years of China-UAE relations, we see invaluable experiences that deserve to be shared. Looking ahead, we need a comprehensive platform for both countries to promote exchanges, foster cooperation, and build lasting friendships.
Throughout the opening ceremony and the three sessions, we’ve had deep discussions on four key topics: China-UAE economic cooperation, New Energy, New Generation, and New Media. Following all the discussion on the Forum, please allow me to share with you some of the points, which impressed me deeply.
First, China and the UAE are committed to promoting common development, by building open and inclusive partnerships. Several speakers have noted that, in the face of sluggish global economy and rising protectionism, both countries believe that only through openness and collaboration, can we tackle all the challenges and strengthen the resilience of our economy. We are actively building platforms to facilitate openness and inclusiveness, improving our business environments to expand cooperation and create more opportunities for mutual benefits. The facts speak for themselves: China and the UAE have become two of the most vibrant economies in the world, with rapid economic growth and robust bilateral trade, together we inject strong momentum into global development.
Second, we are both committed to expanding cooperation in emerging fields, by prioritizing innovation and green development. COP28 was held successfully in Dubai last year, promoting a global transformation to a green and low-carbon future, which our two countries are in the leading position in the world. China-UAE cooperation in new energy started early, and has achieved prosperous results in many clean energy projects in the UAE. Increasing number of Chinese EVs could be easily found on the streets of Dubai. On Session I this morning, we mainly explored the policies, trends, and opportunities in the new energy sector through specific cases, from various perspectives, including economics, law and investment. In particular, we’ve built a consensus that there is great potential for our cooperation in new energy industry, raising our expectations for a shared green future.
Third, we are both committed to carrying forward our everlasting friendship, by investing in our young generations. On Session II, we’ve heard both inspiring words of wisdom from senior speakers, and wonderful stories from the younger generation, including the UAE students travelling to China and young scholars from both sides. We understand friendship needs to be passed on from generation to generation. We are happy to see that the friendship between our youth continues to grow stronger through mutual exchanges. I’m fully confident that the next generation will take on the responsibilities of fostering greater friendship between our peoples.
Last but not least, we are both committed to telling our stories well through our own narratives, by enhancing our capacity for engaging in international communication. Whether it's Bilibili, Douyin, TikTok or Emirates Love, it's hard to imagine a life without new media today. The rapid rise of new media is transforming how we connect and understand one another, also reshaping global communication and international relations. On Session III, speakers offered their insights into the opportunities and challenges presented by new media, and shared valuable suggestions on how we can use it to promote our friendship and build a shared future. I believe by creating positive content and connecting people actively, our life will become even more beautiful and our hearts will come closer in the new media era.
Today’s forum is inspiring. Looking back, China and the UAE have traveled an incredible journey together. Looking forward, despite of all the challenges, we have every confidence to continue our journey.
There’s a saying in Chinese: “Life begins at forty.” As China-UAE relations reach this 40-year milestone, I’m fully confident that our comprehensive strategic partnership will continue to thrive, creating a brighter future together. Thank you!