On July 19, 2023, Minister Wang Zhigang met in Beijing with newly-appointed Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates(UAE) to China Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi.

　　Minister Wang Zhigang extended his congratulations to Hammadi on assuming the position as the UAE Ambassador to China. He stated that the friendship between China and the UAE has a long history and bilateral sci-tech cooperation has been deepening. In recent years, under the joint guidance of the leaders of both nations, China and the UAE have carried out fruitful cooperation in the field of sci-tech innovation.

　　Minister Wang Zhigang pointed out that when President Xi Jinping made the state visit to the UAE in July 2018, the two countries announced to build a comprehensive strategic partnership, ushering in a new chapter in bilateral relations. During a phone conversation with UAE President Mohammed in May 2022, President Xi Jinping emphasized that through joint efforts, the comprehensive strategic partnership has been strengthened and elevated to the highest level in history, and friendly cooperation in various fields has reached an unprecedented level. Wang Zhigang stated that sci-tech progress is a key driving force for human advancement, and sci-tech cooperation benefits both countries and the peoples. He would like to work together with Ambassador Hammadi to deepen sci-tech cooperation, and take the comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height.

　　Ambassador Hammadi hailed the achievements of bilateral sci-tech cooperation. He pointed out that sci-tech cooperation is an important component of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UAE. Under the joint guidance of the leaders of both countries, cooperation on sci-tech innovation has become a significant part of bilateral collaboration. As the UAE Ambassador to China, he would like to work together with Chinese counterparts to deepen cooperation and inject new momentum into the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UAE.

　　Dai Gang, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology; Sayed Al Afari, Director of Economic Office at the UAE Embassy in China, and Abdullah Al Shamisi, Director of Political Office at the UAE Embassy in China, were present during the meeting.