Chinese FM calls for pushing China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership to higher level

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that China is willing to work with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to advance the China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level.

The UAE is a country in the Middle East with distinctive importance and influence. The development strategies of China and the UAE are in alignment, the philosophies of governance are similar, and the economies are highly complementary, making the two countries natural friends and partners, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, when meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In the more than four decades since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and the UAE have respected and supported each other, and the bilateral ties have withstood the test of the changing international landscape and maintained a sound and steady development, Wang noted.

China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the UAE, implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, stay committed to the original aspirations of diplomatic ties, deepen strategic mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and carry forward the traditional friendship, so as to jointly push for a higher level of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, he added.

Noting the second China-Arab States Summit is scheduled to be held in China next year, Wang said he expects to welcome the participation of Arab leaders, and expressed the hope that, with the support by the UAE and other Arab nations, the summit will yield positive outcomes and elevate China-Arab states relations to a new level.

Sheikh Abdullah said that over the more than four decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations, UAE-China relations rapidly developed based on mutual respect and trust, witnessing fruitful cooperation across various fields and deepening people-to-people friendship, thus becoming a model for state-to-state relations.

He stressed that the UAE firmly adheres to the one-China principle, firmly supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity and in achieving national reunification, and resolutely opposes foreign interference in China's internal affairs.

The two sides also exchanged views on issues such as the situation in the Middle East.

Chinese FM calls for pushing China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership to higher level

China is going to step up efforts to further stabilize employment for key groups and improving social security, in accordance with the requirements and arrangement from the annual Central Economic Work Conference.

The conference was held in Beijing from Wednesday to Thursday as Chinese leaders decided priorities for the economic work in 2026.

It highlighted the priority to safeguard and improve people's livelihoods, which includes taking a series of measures to boost the labor market.

Experts believe that the following policy package will have positive impacts on the job market.

"For example, companies can implement subsidy policies to support job expansion, along with on-the-job training and skill upgrading for employees. These measures are designed to encourage enterprises to stabilize existing positions, create new ones, and enhance the overall quality of employment," said Wen Xiaoyi, vice president of China University of Labor Relations.

The meeting stressed the efforts to stabilize employment for key groups such as college graduates and migrant workers. Wen suggested that implementing targeted policies for key groups will enhance job matching and adaptability.

"For university graduates, more employment opportunities could be opened for them, meanwhile enhancing their employability. In terms of migrant workers, coordinated development between the eastern and western regions, as well as linkages between labor-importing and labor-exporting areas can be greatly improved," he said.

The meeting also pointed out that people in flexible employment and those in new forms of employment are encouraged to take part in employee insurance schemes.

Currently, the workforce engaged in flexible employment and emerging forms of work in China is steadily growing, covering many groups, such as ride-hailing drivers, deliverymen, individual business owners and freelancers.

Properly addressing their social security will further improve their level of social security, experts said.

"Efforts are being made to advance the inclusive development of the social security system, improve the accessibility and convenience of enrollment, and enhance long-term benefit entitlements. These measures not only reinforce workers' sense of belonging and security, but also lay a strong foundation for invigorating the labor market," said Liu Xu, director, Social Development Institute of Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research.

China to further stabilize employment, improve social security