To Strengthen Cooperation and Become

Acquainted with the History of the U.A.E.

The National Archives Receives a Delegation from the Chinese Embassy

The National Archives of the United Arab Emirates received a delegation from the Chinese Embassy to exchange experiences, identify cooperation frameworks, and to become acquainted with the history of the United Arab Emirates. The visit came as a translation of the terms of the Cooperation Protocol the National Archives signed with the State Archives Administration of the People's Republic of China in the field of archiving, preserving, and documenting heritage and history.

This protocol which was signed in Beijing last month has a great importance as it was concluded in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and as it lays the foundations of mutual cooperation at the level of ways of keeping historical documents and methods that are followed by China's National Archives, which focuses strongly on historical documents.

The delegation, after being briefed on the history of the National Archives, its duties and objectives, the stages of its evolution, visited the Presidential Archive and reviewed many historical documents, which confirmed the strong ties and friendship between the two countries, most notably the documentary film about the visit of the founding leader Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan to China in 1991. Then the visiting delegation received a detailed explanation of the methods of work and the tasks of the Presidential Archive, which preserves and restores old documentaries.

The delegation also toured the new hall of the Emirates Library, which contains a collection of specialized books and holdings as well as facilities that offer a relaxed research atmosphere to its visitors.

The delegation saw a 3D high-tech film about the history of the U.A.E. and its present and future prospects, and they expressed their admiration for Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Hall, which includes models of written historical documents, maps, and photographs.

At the end of the visit, the head of the visiting delegation and the Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, Lin Yaduo, praised the National Archives for its rare documentary and historical holdings as well as the advancement and development he saw in the National Archives, particularly in the technical base upon which it depends while performing its duties. Counsellor Yaduo stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between the National Archives of the U.A.E. and the Archives in the People's Republic of China in order to establish an exchange and collaboration mechanism in the areas of archiving, history, and the cultural and heritage links, and in reservation and management of records. He expressed his hope for the everlasting prosperity of the Chinese-Emirati relations through mutual trust, understanding, and respect.