Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi and Shenzhen have signed a Twin City agreement. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by HE Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) and Qin Weizhong, Mayor of Shenzhen.
It was announced during the inaugural Abu Dhabi x Shenzhen Innovation Forum (ADSZIF) held in Shenzhen, China, from January 25–26, 2024.
Both sides commit to exchange knowledge and work together on cutting edge smart city initiatives in a number of domains, such as autonomous solutions, transportation, green mobility, infrastructure, urban development, sustainability, and city planning.
HE Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa said that, “Abu Dhabi has its sights firmly set on being a global pioneer in sustainable and smart urban development. We are committed to leveraging innovation and technology to transform urban living and improve the lives, wellbeing and experience of all those connected to the UAE capital and across the emirate. Leveraging strategic partnerships is key to delivering any ambitious vision and as we approach the Chinese New Year, this is the perfect time to sign a Twin City agreement with one of the most advanced cities in the world, Shenzhen.”
“The inaugural Abu Dhabi x Shenzhen Innovation Forum has been an overwhelming success and marks a new era for UAE-China relations. We are confident that the agreements signed during the forum will ensure our two world-class cities become even more attractive to citizens, visitors, businesses, and investors in the Year of the Dragon and beyond,” Al Shorafa added.
ADSZIF, an initiative combining Shenzhen and Abu Dhabi, brought together top executives from more than 15 organizations and dignitaries from DMT, the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), and Chinese authorities.
Additionally, DMT signed strategic agreements at the meeting with Huawei, Kowloon Motor Bus Company, Templewater Hong Kong Limited, and Shenzhen Urban Transport Planning Centre Co. Ltd (SUTPC). Representatives from DMT also took part in a number of site visits in Shenzhen, visiting Huawei’s research center, the Intelligent Operation Center (IOC), and the Transport Operations Coordination Center (TOCC) of the city.
A Letter of Intent was also signed with Kowloon Motor Bus Company to enhance the public transport sector in the emirate.
The forum reflects the deepening relationship between the UAE and China across diverse sectors, including the areas of smart city development and related technologies. As part of these continuous efforts, HE Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa made his first visit to Shenzhen in 2023 in his capacity as the Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport to explore Shenzhen’s smart city infrastructure and technology, as well as to Beijing to sign a Letter of Intent with Yin Yong, Mayor of Beijing, to exchange best practices in municipal work and sustainable transportation solutions.