Celebration event held in Abu Dhabi to mark 40 years of China-UAE diplomatic ties

A celebration event is taking place at Corniche, Abu Dhabi, to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), presenting a carnival of cultural exchanges between the two peoples.

The three-day event, named "Building Bridges for the Future: UAE-China", opened Friday under the theme of "Reflecting on the Past, Present, and Future."

Visitors to the event are immersed in a vibrant blend of Chinese and Emirati culture, featuring interactive workshops that encourage attendees to explore traditional crafts from both countries.

Through hands-on activities like calligraphy, fan painting and basket weaving, guests have the opportunity to engage with artistry that has been passed down through generations, celebrating the shared values of craftsmanship and heritage.

Artisan stalls along the Corniche showcase handcrafted goods from both Chinese and Emirati artists, offering a close-up glimpse into the cultural richness of each country.

"That's really a very nice chance to a lot of people anyway, and also in China to know what's going on between these two countries. And 40 years of relationship - it's a big period and very interesting. Here on the events today we saw a lot of different culture between the two countries. Everyone happy, everyone likes to know some things about the other country. Like for example, for me I would like to know what's about the Chinese culture, and also the Chinese people want to know that Arabic culture. So I find this a very nice chance for people to know about China and the UAE," said Sultan Alkaabi, a UAE visitor.

The event has attracted many local people. In addition to showcasing traditional handicrafts from the two countries, food tasting is also a highlight.

"On such a special day, the UAE royal family and government decided to host a unique event to celebrate the establishment of diplomatic relations at the most vibrant Corniche in central Abu Dhabi. I felt a strong sense of friendship in the air. I have learned that this event was personally organized by Sheikha Maryam, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's eldest daughter, and she focused on every detail. This truly reflects the UAE royal family's significant commitment to the event of 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE," said Zhang Yiming, China's ambassador to the UAE.

The European Central Bank (ECB) decided on Thursday to cut its key interest rates by 25 basis points at its rate-setting meeting.

With this adjustment, the interest rates for the deposit facility, the main refinancing operation, and the marginal lending facility are now set at 3 percent, 3.15 percent and 3.4 percent respectively, the bank said in a statement.

The decision to lower interest rates was "based on its updated assessment of the inflation outlook, the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission," the statement said.

This marks the ECB's fourth rate cut this year, reducing rates from their historical highs.