The United Arab Emirates and China reaffirmed the strength of their robust relationship during a strategic dialogue held in Hong Kong on Jan 27, with education cooperation, scaling up of talent, and fostering deeper cultural collaboration figuring prominently on the high-level agenda.

The evening gala, with the theme “Future Horizons: The UAE-Hong Kong Connect”, was held following the two-day Asian Financial Forum and was jointly hosted by InvestHK and the Consulate General of the United Arab Emirates Hong Kong.

Among those who graced the event was Hussain Al Hammadi, the UAE Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China. The ambassador noted that the UAE-China relationship “is defined by mutual respect and a high level of trust, shared through development, openness and opportunity”.

Turning to Hong Kong, he said it is a distinctive and strategic place, with one of the world’s most dynamic financial hubs and Asia’s global financial center, and lauded the Special Administrative Region’s commitment to innovation, its international links, and regional opportunities, which also “offer a gateway for the Greater Bay Area”.

The ambassador also noted that the UAE and Hong Kong share similarities when it comes to fostering economic opportunities as both are open with a “globally connected passport built on trust and efficiency”, linking Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

“From the UAE perspective, our growth is here. We support (an) open and a predictable business environment and we focus (on) delivering clear outcomes,” said Al Hammadi, as he encouraged attendees to the dinner to “use this platform to build connection, sustain collaboration and mutual benefit”.                                                                                                                                                  

Christine Choi Yuk-lin, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Education, emphasized that the collaboration between Hong Kong and the UAE “is not just about trade and investment”.

“It is fundamentally about people, ideas and shared growth. Both of us place high importance on fostering talent development,” said Choi, as she outlined opportunities in education development in the Greater Bay Area.

She noted that apart from recent world rankings, Hong Kong “has long been recognised for its world-class university and vibrant research environment”. Choi added that the government is now “leveraging the unique advantage of the metropolis” with the development of some 30,000 hectares of land that would in the future enable greater linkages and seamless connections to the Chinese mainland.

“These elements create an ideal environment to expand our post-secondary education, enhancing both its quality and quantity in capacity while fostering innovation and collaboration,” said Choi, adding that the Hong Kong government has established a dedicated working group to focus on these developments.

She also said Hong Kong is aiming to attract leading universities and research institutions from overseas, including the UAE, to establish a base in the city by partnering with local institutions. They also aspire to have joint degree programs and establish laboratories.

“The north metropolis is designed as a platform for such cooperation, positioning Hong Kong as the international innovation and technology hub. These will also expand our research capacity, enrich our intellectual community and contribute to (solving) global challenges of our time,” said Choi.

“We are building more than just infrastructure. It's vision for a collaborative, innovative future. We warmly invite institutions and research bodies from around the world, including the UAE, to join us on this journey. Together, we can build bridges that foster exchanges, economic growth and mutual prosperity,” she added.

Jonathan Lamport, a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong SAR, said he has always believed that cultural exchange must come with the importance of change.

He said over the years of meeting religious leaders, government officials and business leaders, the experiences have taught him that in order to build successful partnerships, “we must first respect each other's approaches”.

“Looking ahead, China's 15th Five-Year Plan presents opportunities for many of our business sectors…the climate encourages more Hong Kong and mainland enterprises to expand overseas. In this regard, the Middle East market stands out as one of the most important,” said Lamport.

Among those who attended and gave presentations also included Abdulla Al Abdouli, CEO, Marjan; Sameh Muhtadi, CEO, RAK Properties; Eugene Cheung, Managing Director, Hong Kong & Greater Bay Area IWG plc; Mr. Obaid Al Jarwan, Senior Executive, Sharjah FDI Office; Sandra Marie Louw, CEO, RAK International Corporate Centre; and Emma Zhu, Partner, Sinohope Asset Management (Hong Kong) Limited.

Contact the writer at jan@chinadailyapac.com