Ni Jian celebrated the relationship as “deep” and “fruitful”, and also outlined the two nations’ intentions to enrich the strategic partnership.
The morning programme also included a broad cross-section of Chinese culture, including a creative adaptation of a traditional Peking opera, featuring traditional costumes, followed by a violin and piano performance of the Harvest Song of the Fisherman.
The cultural programme closed with an operatic performance by Wang Weilian, singing the harmonious My Motherland and Me.
Ni Jian was welcomed by Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai, and Sultan Al Shamsi, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Development Affairs.
Al Shamsi said, “The UAE and China share a steadfast relationship, based on notions of friendship and respect, which has gone from strength to strength over the years, with collaboration expanding across various sectors of mutual interest, particularly China’s Belt and Road Initiative, in which the UAE has been a key and supportive partner.
“We are confident that, through China’s strong participation and engagement at Expo 2020, the relations between our two nations will witness the beginning of an even richer chapter in their history.”
Ni Jian said, “The ancient Silk Road 2,000 years ago brought our two peoples close together, a spirit that the UAE and China seek to revive in the modern era. In recent years, under the close stewardship of our respective leaderships, China and the UAE have experienced deepened political mutual trust, fruitful trade and economic cooperation, and thriving people-to-people exchanges.
