In the evening of January 20, 2014, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, by request, held telephone talks with Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

　　Wang Yi said that China attaches great importance to the strategic partnership with the UAE, and is willing to take the opportunity of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relationship to further deepen friendly cooperation between China and the UAE in all fields. China is willing to make joint efforts with the UAE to promote China-GCC cooperation and to accelerate the process of the China-GCC free trade area (FTA) negotiations.

　　Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed that for the 30 years since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relationship, bilateral cooperation in various fields has been developing rapidly and has achieved fruitful results. The UAE is willing to keep on deepening bilateral friendly cooperation in all fields to further promote the development of relations between the GCC as well as the Arabian countries and China. The UAE supports to accelerate the process of the GCC-China FTA negotiations.

　　Both sides as well exchanged views on Syria, Egypt and other regional issues of common concern. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that the UAE appreciates the important role China has played in Syria issue.