Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, the Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority, led an official delegation from the United Arab Emirates on a visit to the People’s Republic of China. The objective was to enhance technical and commercial cooperation in the civil aviation sector, furthering the strategic partnership between the two nations.
Accompanying Al Suwaidi were Badr Salim Al-Olama, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, and Engineer Ismail Hassan Al Blooshi, Director General of the Ras Al Khaimah Civil Aviation Authority, as well as senior representatives from the General Civil Aviation Authority, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Edge Company, and the Ras Al Khaimah Civil Aviation Authority.
Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation
Al Suwaidi emphasized that the collaboration between the UAE and China in the civil aviation field is continuously evolving, bolstered by several existing strategic cooperation agreements across various developmental areas and robust bilateral relations, along with a shared desire to pursue further opportunities for collaboration.
He stated, “We aim to broaden our cooperative efforts in the air transport sector with our partners in China, particularly focusing on manufacturing, technical licensing, and knowledge exchange, which will contribute to the advancement of civil aviation systems.
This visit represents a practical step towards establishing new partnerships that support future growth plans within the aviation sectors of both countries.”
Enhancing Competitiveness
Badr Salim Sultan Al-Olama remarked, “The civil aviation sector plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth and diversification in Abu Dhabi. This visit reflects our unwavering commitment to building impactful partnerships that enhance technical cooperation and open up strategic commercial avenues globally.
By collaborating with the General Civil Aviation Authority and our strategic partners in both the UAE and China, we are working together to improve the competitiveness of the aviation sector in Abu Dhabi and contribute to shaping the industry’s future on a global scale.”
Engineer Ismail Hassan Al Blooshi stated, “It was a privilege to join the official UAE delegation, led by Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, during the visit to China, which was a significant milestone in strengthening technical and strategic collaboration in civil aviation between the two friendly nations.
The program allowed us to explore the latest technologies in the aviation industry, including cutting-edge projects in flying taxis and innovative applications in urban air transport. We also discussed cooperative opportunities with leading Chinese companies and institutions in manufacturing, technical licensing, and air navigation.”
He continued, “At the Ras Al Khaimah Civil Aviation Authority, we are dedicated to forging international partnerships that align with the emirate’s aspirations and support the aviation sector’s growth according to the highest global standards. We look forward to translating the outcomes of this visit into tangible projects that enhance the sector’s competitiveness at both local and international levels.”
The delegation began their journey in Shanghai, where the agenda included site visits and high-level meetings with executives from several leading Chinese aviation manufacturing firms, such as COMAC, T-Cab Technologies, AutoFlight, and CITIC General Aviation.
Senior representatives from the General Civil Aviation Authority, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Edge Company, and the Ras Al Khaimah Civil Aviation Authority participated in these meetings, which highlighted key technological developments in aircraft manufacturing.
Additionally, Saif Al Suwaidi toured COMAC’s facilities to learn about the company’s future plans and held a high-level meeting with COMAC’s Vice President, discussing potential industrial and technological cooperation.
During the final two days, the delegation transitioned to Beijing for official meetings between the senior officials of the General Civil Aviation Authority and their counterparts at the Civil Aviation Administration of China, as well as representatives from China’s air navigation services. Discussions focused on regulatory cooperation, knowledge exchange, and coordination possibilities in licensing, maintenance, air navigation, and institutional development.
The visit concluded with a high-profile meeting between Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi and Song Qiong, head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, attended by prominent diplomatic figures from the UAE Embassy in China, where future visions for collaboration were discussed, reaffirming the strength of bilateral relations in civil aviation.