UAE Embassy in Beijing hosts virtual science and technology tour between the UAE and China

The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates to the People’s Republic of China and the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology hosted a virtual tour on agricultural technology, inviting senior policymakers and distinguished industry experts from both countries to explore new avenues for bilateral cooperation in this field.

The event was opened with keynote addresses by His Excellency Dr. Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to China, and Wei Zhenglin, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China and head of the Chinese delegation.

In his opening speech, His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Ali Al Dhaheri highlighted a number of innovative steps that the UAE has taken in recent years to nurture an agricultural industry that strives for sustainability and abundance.

“The UAE has launched numerous policies to adopt sustainable and climate-smart agricultural methods that focus on the optimal utilization of cultivated land, thereby enhancing the quality and competitiveness of agricultural produce,” His Excellency Al Dhaheri said.

He added: “Through these initiatives, we are committed to strengthening agricultural pest control programs, reducing loss and waste throughout the food chain, and expanding interest in scientific studies and research in the agricultural field.”

Key stakeholders from various scientific and commercial fields joined the virtual scientific tour to discuss the importance of agricultural technology as an indispensable industry in the future, in addition to providing a comprehensive overview of innovative agricultural technology and its role in facing global challenges.

For his part, Sun Fajun, Deputy Director General of the Ministry’s Department of Science, Technology and Education, spoke about the latest innovative developments within China’s agricultural sector.

The event was part of global virtual tours launched by the UAE Government last year. The tours bring together policy makers, business leaders, and eminent scientists from around the world to discuss the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 

The Sci-Tech Tour with China also represented the importance of the bilateral relationship between the UAE and China. The UAE remains China’s most significant export market and largest non-oil trading partner in the MENA region. 

While trade will continue to be a fundamental cornerstone of the relationship, the Sci-Tech tour also focused on other essential areas of mutual concern, including food security and the elimination of hunger in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.