Shanghai and Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates capital, signed a strategic cooperation agreement on Feb 19 to further develop friendly relations between the two cities.

Chen Jining, Party secretary of Shanghai, met with Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng also attended the signing ceremony.

The agreement aims to expand cooperation in trade, investment, finance, and technological innovation, promoting people-to-people exchanges and cultural ties.

There is also an expectation for increased interaction between universities and research institutions to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence, the digital economy, smart cities, and biomedicines.

Chen said that China and the UAE are trusted friends and partners in mutual growth. As China's economic hub and a leader in reform and opening-up, Shanghai welcomes more businesses from Abu Dhabi to invest here.

"We are committed to maintaining a market-driven, law-based, and international business environment, supporting both local and foreign companies in expanding their operations," he added.

Gong said that Shanghai is excited to see more Abu Dhabi companies participate in this year's China International Import Expo and explore investment opportunities here.

"We are eager to see both sides' universities and research institutions deepen cooperation in fields such as AI, the digital economy, smart cities, and biomedicines. We also look forward to expanding cultural, artistic, and tourism exchanges to strengthen mutual understanding and foster closer people-to-people ties," Gong added.

Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi said that this is his first visit to Shanghai and he's truly impressed by this modern international city. The experiences and insights gained here have been invaluable.

He added, "I look forward to strengthening our partnership, building more solid cooperation, and ensuring lasting friendship. Together, we aim to find more opportunities for collaboration in trade, investment, technology, and culture."

Source: "shanghaifabu" WeChat account