China, UAE agree to deepen investment cooperation

China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed on Monday to step up investment cooperation and push for greater common development.

The agreement was reached between Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a meeting of the High-Level China-UAE Investment Cooperation Committee, which was co-chaired by them via video link.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that under the strategic guidance of the two countries' presidents, the China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership has flourished, setting a model for relations between China and Arab countries in the new era.

The establishment of the High-Level China-UAE Investment Cooperation Committee is conducive to promoting more achievements in bilateral cooperation and meets the common aspirations and practical needs of both sides, he said.

China stands ready to work with the UAE to thoroughly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, further expand the scale and increase the returns of investment cooperation, and push the China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level, Ding said.

He highly affirmed the achievements made since the establishment of the committee and put forth a three-point proposal on deepening investment cooperation between the two countries.

First, Ding said, the committee should play a steering and coordinating role in bilateral cooperation, calling on the two countries to strengthen alignment of strategies, plans and policies in the investment field and jointly come up with new ideas and ways to advance cooperation.

Second, he said, the two countries should jointly map out and implement a batch of major projects in key areas under the Belt and Road Initiative, and make sure that these projects play a leading role in bilateral investment cooperation.

Third, he called for giving full play to the role of enterprises as the main players in bilateral cooperation, stressing the need to encourage and guide the enterprises to actively explore more areas for and innovate their ways of cooperation, so as to deliver more solid progress from bilateral investment cooperation.

For his part, Mansour said the UAE highly appreciates the closely developing relations with China and is full of confidence in the Chinese economy.

The UAE is willing to enhance investment cooperation with China and push for greater complementarity of the two countries' strengths and common prosperity, he said.

The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the work in the next stage, and reached broad consensus.

China, UAE agree to deepen investment cooperation

China, UAE agree to deepen investment cooperation

The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.

In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.

"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.

Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."

Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.

President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.

Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.

Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests