A high-level delegation from Ras Al Khaimah has signed a historic agreement with China’s Fujian Province while concluding a momentous six-day visit to South China.

His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, witnessed the signing. 

The agreement aims to establish friendly relations and build partnerships across a variety of sectors. It establishes a comprehensive framework for deeper economic, maritime and cultural ties between Ras Al Khaimah and Fujian Province, driving joint initiatives in green supply chains, port logistics, sustainable building materials and cultural exchange. 

Mutual trust

The signing ceremony in Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian Province, was attended by senior provincial leadership and delegates from Ras Al Khaimah, marking a new milestone in bilateral collaboration on governance and highlighting mutual trust between the two regions.

HH Sheikh Saud said: “The friendship between Ras Al Khaimah and China is deeply rooted in history and revitalised by a shared vision for modern economic transformation. Signing this friendship agreement with Fujian Province cements a partnership rooted in mutual respect, shared ambition and centuries of maritime connection, which creates a formal foundation for our communities and enterprises to collaborate more closely.” 

The friendship agreement, signed on behalf of the Government of Ras Al Khaimah by Mohammed Omran Al Shamsi, Special Advisor to HH Sheikh Saud, and on behalf of Fujian Province by Zhao Zenglian, Member of the Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial Committee, follows the signing of 10 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between entities and establishments in Ras Al Khaimah and their Chinese counterparts. 

Humanoid robotic systems

During the first leg of the visit, in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, HH Sheikh Saud was present for the signing of a strategic MoU between the International Relations Office of the Government of Ras Al Khaimah and UBTECH Robotics, which establishes a framework to test, demonstrate and deploy humanoid robotic systems across industrial, commercial service, elderly care and cultural tourism scenarios in Ras Al Khaimah. 

Other MoUs signed were between RAK Transport Authority and Shenzhen Urban Transport Planning Centre (SUTPC); separate agreements involving Marjan Group and RAKBANK and the Bank of China (Dubai Branch); the International Relations Office and Phoenix New Media Information Technology; Marjan Group and the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC); Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RAK Chamber) and Tianhe Central Business District (Tianhe CBD); RAK Chamber and the Bureau of China International SME Fair; RAK Department of Antiquities & Museums and Sun Yat-sen University History Museum; and Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) and Fujian Jihong Packaging Technology.

The journey began in Shenzhen with the RAK-China Business Conference, themed “Together Towards Shared Value”, alongside CEO matchmaking sessions that connected Chinese innovators in AI and future technologies with Ras Al Khaimah’s core economic bodies. The delegation then travelled to Guangzhou for high-level meetings and the inauguration of Ras Al Khaimah’s first business consultancy in China, establishing a permanent bridge for trade and cultural exchange, before concluding the trip in Fuzhou. 

Ongoing momentum

The visit builds on the ongoing momentum, which includes April’s landmark MoUs with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and Bank of China, as well as Ras Al Khaimah’s foundational 2024 collaboration agreement with Guangdong Province. Together, these strategic frameworks provide a seamless, multi-pillar foundation for long-term bilateral collaboration. 

HH Sheikh Saud noted: “Our engagements in China have reaffirmed that true progress stems from an enduring partnership. By aligning Chinese industrial and technological leadership with Ras Al Khaimah’s strategic location, vast manufacturing capabilities and abundant opportunities, all the while honouring our shared cultural heritage, we unlock sustainable progress for both of our peoples. We extend our warmest invitation to our partners in China to join us in Ras Al Khaimah as we collaborate, innovate and shape a prosperous future together.”—TradeArabia News Service