Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, returned to the UAE late Thursday, after wrapping up a four-day visit to China.
The visit, which was described as historic and highly significant, was marked by a flurry of high-profile diplomatic activities, including meetings with China's President Hu Jintao, Vice-President Wen Xi Jinping and Premier Wen Jiabao.
The visit's importance was reflected by the official and popular welcome Shaikh Mohammad received everywhere he went in China.
An official reception according to Chinese protocol was given for Shaikh Mohammad by the vice-president of China. This included the national anthems of the UAE and China and the inspection of the guard of honour.
As he warmly welcomed Shaikh Mohammad on the first day of the visit, President Hu expressed the hope that this visit would further boost friendship and cooperation between the UAE and China.
The Chinese president described Shaikh Mohammad as "an old friend of the Chinese leadership and people." He said Shaikh Mohammad played a major role in boosting bilateral ties between the two countries.
Shaikh Mohammad said it was a great honour for him to be in Beijing to meet the Chinese president and to have first hand information about the great Chinese people, adding that the UAE leadership and people have great respect for the Chinese leadership and people.
Shaikh Mohammad lauded the volume of trade exchange between the UAE and China.
He described bilateral relations as "outstanding, historical and vibrant."
The importance of Chinese-UAE relations was further echoed in meetings that brought together Shaikh Mohammad with Xi Jinping, who expressed confidence that Shaikh Mohammad's visit to China would add fresh momentum to historical relations between the two countries.
Wen Jiabao also underlined the importance of the visit, noting that Shaikh Mohammad was a familiar figure with whom he had a memorable audience during the World Economic Forum in China last year.
With the UAE's trade with China recording 40 per cent growth in recent years, the Asian economic giant is now the largest trade partner for the UAE.
That is why Shaikh Mohammad's delegation concluded a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding on a whole range of economic, health, cultural and judicial issues.
Shaikh Mohammad visited the Great Wall of China, which has been visited by over 400 heads of state and government since it was built in 400 BC to protect the borders of the Chinese empire during the successive dynasties.
At the end of the tour of the Wall, Shaikh Mohammad wrote in the visitors' book that the Wall of China is one of the wonders of the world and he is honoured to be visiting the historical landmark.
The delegation accompanying Shaikh Mohammad included Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister; Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, and other ministers and senior officials.
It also included Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimi, Minister of State; Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of the Dubai Ports and Customs and the Free Zoneand Mohammad Ali Al Abbar, Director General of the Dubai Economic Development Department.
