The national aerobatic display team of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) unveiled the impressive aerial performance capabilities of a new fleet of Chinese-developed advanced trainers as the Dubai Airshow 2025 got underway on Monday.
The five-day event, which is being held under the theme "The Future Is Here," has drawn more than 1,500 exhibitors, including 440 first-time participants.
Over 200 aircraft are on display, from commercial, military, and private jets to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and next-generation aviation technologies.
The opening day got off to a spectacular start as the Fursan al-Emarat (the Knights of the Emirates) display team wowed spectators with intricate flying formations and colorful smoke trails while demonstrating the stunning maneuverability of the Chinese jet trainers.
The seven twin-engine and two-seat Hongdu L-15 aircraft have been painted in a distinctive gold and black color scheme of the Knights, with the UAE flag painted on the underside of each wing.
The appearance of the new fleet marked the aerobatic team's first aircraft change since its creation in 2008, and the aircraft made a big impression on airshow attendees.
"How the airplanes are painted - gold, black and the flag under the wing, it's beautiful. It's amazing! And the jet noise is amazing! It's a whistle! It's amazing!" said Maurizio, a spectator from Italy.
"I know it's a new airplane. I know it's the first time they are displayed here in the UAE. I know it's [from] China," said Ahmed, another spectator from the UAE.
This year's Dubai Airshow has attracted some 148,000 trade visitors and is expected to be the largest in the biennial event's history.
UAE aerobatic team showcases China's advanced jet trainers at Dubai Airshow
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, together with Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Thailand's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, held the third meeting of the Consultation Mechanism between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of China and Thailand on Friday in Bangkok.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that this year marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan and also the start of the new Thai government's governance.
Facing a volatile international situation, Wang said, China is willing to work with Thailand to give full play to the coordinating role of the foreign ministers' consultation mechanism guided by the strategic consensus reached by the two heads of state.
Both sides should join hands to advance their respective modernization processes, jointly practice genuine multilateralism, create a new golden 50 years for China-Thailand friendship, and make new contributions to promoting the solidarity and development of the Global South as well as regional peace and stability, he said.
Noting that China has always placed Thailand in an important position in its neighborhood diplomacy, Wang said China is ready to continue to be a reliable strategic partner of Thailand, support the new Thai government in leading its people to follow a development path that suits its national conditions, and promote the building of a more stable, prosperous and sustainable China-Thailand community with a shared future.
It is believed that Thailand will continue to resolutely support China's great cause of peaceful reunification, he added.
Wang also called on the two sides to maintain high-level exchanges, enhance political mutual trust, strengthen the alignment of development strategies and initiate the formulation of the new five-year action plan.
He said that both sides should intensify efforts to crack down on transnational crimes, completely eradicate gambling and fraud, strengthen multilateral collaboration and jointly implement the four major global initiatives.
China has always advocated resolving differences between countries through dialogue rather than force, Wang said, extending the hopes that Thailand and Cambodia will consolidate the ceasefire situation, resume bilateral contacts, resolve border disputes as soon as possible and maintain a peaceful and stable environment.
As a common friend of Thailand and Cambodia, China is willing to continue to build a platform for the two sides to rebuild mutual trust and improve relations, he said.
For his part, Sihasak said that Thailand will, as always, attach great importance to its relations with China, firmly pursue the one-China policy, and consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations.
Thailand is willing to enhance high-level exchanges with China, deepen all-round cooperation in various fields such as connectivity, economy and trade, and combating online gambling and telecommunications fraud, and promote the continuous development of the Thailand-China community with a shared future.
He said that Thailand highly appreciates the four major global initiatives and is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination with China.
Sihasak expressed the appreciation for China's efforts in actively promoting peace talks and mediating the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, adding that he looks forward to China continuing to play a constructive role.
The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) and East Asia cooperation, and agreed to enhance coordination and cooperation to actively build an LMC 2.0, promoting the building of a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future to a new level.
Chinese, Thai FMs hold 3rd consultation mechanism meeting
