Message from Consul-General of United Arab Emirates
The story of the United Arab Emirates is a story of economic success which started with a simple man - a man who had romantic dreams about building a beautiful country from virtually nothing. His vision, however, was married to an unusual determination, thus his dreams did come true. The founder of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, built our country upon the simple principle "Be united and be the best".
The current leadership follows the same principle, and what is achieved today is, in its turn, a dream come true. Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, was a dream. Converting the desert into green farms is an ongoing dream. Making the UAE the first tourist destination in the Middle East is a dream. Building a strong economy which does not depend solely on oil is a dream.
The United Arab Emirates is a small country with less than 10 million people, most of which are foreigners who represent more than 200 different nationalities and who choose to live and work in the UAE. This marks the country's hospitality and tolerance.
The foreign policy of the UAE is based on principles of moderation, mutual respect, peaceful co-existence, respecting international laws, and adhering to the charter of the United Nations.
Since its establishment in 1971, the UAE has abided by a foreign policy which is characterised by prudence, temperance, advocating justice, promoting dialogue with other countries, respecting international laws and agreements, and resolving all kinds of conflicts peacefully.
Across its four levels of foreign relations with the Arabian Gulf countries, with other Arab countries, with Muslim countries at large and with the world, the UAE's foreign policy is based on stable and clear principles of mutual respect, peaceful neighbourhoods, non-involvement in any other countries' internal affairs, and building relations on promoting cooperation and mutual economic interests. The UAE supports the global effort to root out terrorism, but at the same time it believes in dialogue between religious faiths and human civilisations, and the promotion of a spirit of tolerance among all peoples of the world.
The UAE is the fifth-largest supplier of oil and gas in the world, but its economy does not depend on oil revenues. Trade and tourism have become the most important economic sectors in the country.
Foreign aid occupies an important place on the UAE's national agenda. The country provides various types of financial and humanitarian assistance, as well as other forms of aid to many countries in the Middle East region and around the world. This aid takes several forms, and is distributed through a number of organisations, including the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Khalifa Humanitarian Foundation, the Zayed Humanitarian Foundation, the UAE Red Crescent and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Humanitarian Foundation.
The UAE-China relationship is excellent. The cooperation between the two countries has been increasing, and the UAE is the largest export market for China in the Middle East. The UAE has also been Hong Kong's largest export market in the Middle East for many years. Nearly 50 per cent of Hong Kong's total exports to the Middle East go to the UAE. The recent exchange of high-profile visits between the UAE and Hong Kong mark the increasing significance of their relationship and create new opportunities for further trade volume increase and diversified business relationships, as well as open new doors and introduce new ideas.
Since its foundation in Hong Kong in 2000, the efforts of the Consulate-General of the UAE in the course of strengthening the UAE's ties with Hong Kong have resulted in the signing of several agreements: an Air Services Agreement on April 29, 1998; a Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services on October 10, 2001; a Memorandum of Understanding between the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on March 28, 2007; and an agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation on December 11, 2014, during Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah's recent visit to the UAE. During that visit, the financial secretary also announced the launch of negotiations for an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between the UAE and Hong Kong. The UAE and Hong Kong are also currently trying to fix suitable dates for a second round of negotiations in Abu Dhabi for agreements on surrender of fugitive offenders and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
The consulate-general of the UAE in Hong Kong is pleased to serve the people of Hong Kong and its business community.
Ahmed Naser Alkhaja
Consul-General of United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong