He said that the UAE is the first stop of this overseas trip, and also the first country he visits since his re-election as President of the People's Republic of China.

This shows that China attaches great importance to its relationship with the UAE, he stressed.

Xi said that he has felt the enthusiasm and friendliness of the UAE people as soon as he had arrived in Abu Dhabi, and that he was deeply moved by that.

The Chinese president said he looks forward to exchanging views with the UAE leaders in an in-depth way on advancing bilateral relations.

Xi expressed his confidence that the visit will be a great success with efforts made from both sides and will help further cement the friendship between the two countries and the two peoples.

The UAE vice president and the crown prince warmly welcomed Xi's state visit, calling Xi an old friend and a good friend of the UAE people.

It is a great honor that Xi chooses the UAE as the first stop of his overseas trip after re-election as Chinese president, said the UAE leaders.

People from all walks of life in the UAE are eagerly looking forward to Xi's visit, which they think will be of historical significance and will help further promote the development of bilateral strategic relations in a forceful way, said the UAE leaders.

After the UAE, Xi will pay state visits to Senegal, Rwanda and South Africa, attend the 10th BRICS summit in Johannesburg, and visit Mauritius during a stopover.