Online culture week to boost China-UAE cultural and economic ties

The UAE Embassy to China officially launched China-UAE Culture Week, a five-day marathon of virtual events, on Sunday, with the aim of building an ever-stronger cultural and economic bridge between the two countries and taking the robust comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level.

The five-day China-UAE Culture Week kicks off online on July 5, 2020.

Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, the UAE Ambassador to China, said at the opening event that China-UAE Culture Week will provide another strand to the broad and focused efforts to build a strong cultural and economic bridge between China and the UAE. “Understanding between our peoples will be elevated over the course of these five days, as current and future generations deepen familiarity with each other.”

Dhaheri stressed that this event will offer an opportunity to communicate the unique characteristics of both Arab and Chinese arts, and learn about each other’s unique cultural values. “Culture is as a catalyst for unity in our bilateral relationship, as well as a language of dialogue between our two nations and their peoples. Cultural cooperation is also vital as it becomes a central element of a future economy driven by knowledge, creativity, innovation and digital.”

During China’s President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the UAE in July 2018, the two countries decided to upgrade their bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, UAE Minister of State, noted that “we are all proud of the solid and historic relationships of friendship and cooperation between the UAE and China, a relationship that goes back to the Silk Road era.”

Nusseibeh pointed out that the international community is facing challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic which can only be overcome through global cooperation and solidarity. “To succeed in this endeavor, it is imperative that we work to build bridges of trust and understanding between us… Cultural exchange is one of the ways to build mutual trust and understanding,” he added.

Ni Jian, the Chinese Ambassador to the UAE, echoed Nusseibeh’s remarks, and stressed that in such circumstances it is imperative to enhance mutual learning and exchanges between different civilizations, so as to achieve tolerance, inclusiveness, mutual appreciation and win-win cooperation.

“China and UAE co-hosting this cultural week at this time is highly relevant and meaningful for us to show our confidence, strengthen coordination and promote exchanges during the pandemic,” said Ni.

In the following four days, the culture week will hold online panel discussions themed “Expo and Museum Culture: from Shanghai to Dubai”, “Cultural Differences and Tolerance”, “People Exchanges” and “The Future of Cultural Industry in the Post-epidemic Era”.

The cultural week is available to view on the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) social media channels. Audiences can also enjoy short videos and pictures through the official Weibo account of the UAE Embassy to China.