ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates

The foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates and China discussed ways to improve bilateral cooperation between their countries in a phone call on Friday, local media outlets reported.

The call between Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Wang Yi, who assumed the post just 10 days ago, drew attention to the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

The anniversary will be celebrated in 2024, the agency noted, adding that Al Nayhan praised his country’s “well-rooted and strategic relations” with China.

Wang was appointed to the post following the dismissal of Qin Gang on July 25 following the latter’s one-month absence.

*Writing by Merve Berker