Huang Runqiu, Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment (left) is awarded the First Class Order of Zayed II by Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to China in Beijing, on November 30, 2024. Photo: Courtesy of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in China

The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in China hosted an award ceremony in Beijing on November 30, at which Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to China, Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II to Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment (MEE) Huang Runqiu and Xie Zhenhua, China's former special envoy for climate change, affirming their outstanding contributions to the success of the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference held in Dubai. 

Before the award ceremony, the ambassador and the minister held talks.

Huang introduced China's policies, actions taken, as well as achievements made by the country in recent years in strengthening ecological environment protection and promotion of green and low-carbon transformation under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. Huang also acknowledged the leadership role played by UAE as the COP28 chair and positively evaluated the fruitful results achieved by cooperation between China and the UAE in the field of environment and climate.

He stated that China is willing to continue carrying out policy exchanges, engage in technical discussions, and strengthen environmental protection and low-carbon project cooperation with the UAE.

The country is ready to promote the development of a China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership and jointly build a clean and beautiful world, Huang noted. 

The ambassador expressed his appreciation for China's achievements in the fields of environmental governance and renewable energy development. He thanked China for the country's important role in pushing forward this environmental protection agenda during COP28. 

It is expected that the UAE will deepen exchanges and pragmatic cooperation in the green and low-carbon fields with China, and jointly promote global climate governance and sustainable development, said the ambassador. 

After the award ceremony, Huang and other delegates visited an art exhibition titled Creativity and Research for Young Artists to celebrate 40 Years of China-UAE diplomatic relations.

The exhibition highlights the creative works of young artists from the UAE and China, and will remain open to the public until December 28.