Weihai Yangxing丨seeking Wisdom In The Sands: China-UAE Bonds, Caravan Routes Linking Hearts Across The World - Arabian Post

(MENAFN- The Arabian Post)

As the morning light kisses the glazed curtain wall of the Burj Khalifa over the Persian Gulf, and the evening breeze of Doha whispers against the dome of the Museum of Islamic Art, a practice team named“Weihai Yangxing” from Weiyang College of Tsinghua University is measuring the lands of the Middle East with their footsteps and building bridges of cooperation through dialogue. From August 14 to 24, 2025, this delegation-comprising one leading teacher, one doctoral student instructor, and 13 undergraduate students-traveled thousands of miles to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Under the overarching theme of energy cooperation and technology governance within the“Belt and Road” initiative, they focused on sustainable development pathways and AI governance mechanisms, embarking on an investigative journey that blended academic depth with practical warmth, seeking new green and intelligent perspectives for Sino-Arab collaborative development amidst exotic landscapes.

Dialoguing with Government and Enterprises: Decoding the“Gulf Solution” for Energy Transition

In the desert terrain between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, under a scorching sun that baked the sands, the KEZAD Food Bonded Processing Zone, constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company, stood like a tenacious green sprout growing quietly beneath roaring cranes. Inside the temporary command center, the project manager explained the“low-carbon approach” of the harbor project:“We prioritize locally sourced low-carbon building materials, significantly reducing carbon emissions from transportation.” He then pointed to the rendering of the completed base on the wall:“In the future, we plan to install large-scale solar panels here, coupled with a blockchain logistics management system to optimize cold chain transportation routes in real time.” The team members watched the simulation interface of the smart monitoring system, as if seeing electric trucks laden with fresh fruits and vegetables from around the world driving along solar-powered charging roads, the desert heat transformed into green energy ensuring regional food security-a vivid practice of circular economy and sustainable development empowered by technology.

The UAE and Qatar are reshaping their energy landscapes at an astonishing pace. In Abu Dhabi, Masdar City's“zero-carbon dream” has already become a partial reality-driverless electric vehicles glide silently under glass domes, and photovoltaic panels on building exteriors shimmer like desert beetles. Yet, beyond the demonstration zone, practical challenges remain evident: both countries face contradictions between the advantages of traditional energy economies and the costs of transition. Despite strong governmental pushes for photovoltaic and hydrogen projects, high construction costs, the reliability challenges posed by extreme heat, and consumption habits formed by low oil prices have slowed the adoption of clean energy.

Nonetheless, both nations are determined to transition. The UAE is investing significant portions of its national oil company budget into carbon capture and green hydrogen, while Qatar has outlined renewable energy generation targets in its“National Vision 2030.” As the Economic Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in the UAE noted,“Abundant resources are not a burden but an accelerator for transformation.”

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A representative from the Qatar Investment Promotion Agency's Asia office revealed that discussions on localization cooperation with Chinese automakers like BYD and NIO began five years ago. Battery performance data in extreme heat has become a key to unlocking the Middle Eastern market. Such cooperation highlights the Gulf countries' strategy of leveraging geographical advantages, capital, and policy flexibility to build a“platform economy”-turning their lands into testing grounds and standard-setters for global advanced technologies.

Seeking Wisdom in Academia: Igniting“Sparks of Inspiration” in Technology and Humanities

Amid the wave of energy transformation in the UAE, the“Weihai Yangxing” team visited three top universities in Abu Dhabi, experiencing firsthand the deep integration of education, research, and sustainable energy and AI governance.

Their first stop was Khalifa University. At this research institution bolstering the UAE's innovation development in the“post-oil era,” the team visited the“Intelligent Unmanned Systems Laboratory,” established in collaboration with Beijing Institute of Technology. What stood out was the lab's close ties with startup incubators, actively encouraging students to translate research into practical applications, seamlessly bridging technology development and industrial implementation. A young entrepreneur shared,“Here, we are given the space to experiment and access to industrial resources, encouraging us to ground our ideas in technology.”

At New York University Abu Dhabi, where students from multiple countries converge and science and humanities highly integrate, the team exchanged views with students majoring in computer science, social sciences, and arts. Through cross-disciplinary projects on smart cities and energy technology, they experienced the university's distinct interdisciplinary character. Abu Dhabi's location offers students a unique perspective connecting the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, making multiculturalism a natural breeding ground for innovation.

The final stop was the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) located in Masdar City. In discussions with students, the team learned about the university's deep integration with Masdar City's innovative ecosystem-students can participate in the city's smart energy management projects, applying classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios. Interestingly, student dormitories are named after renewable energy sources, such as“Solar” and“Wind,” constantly reminding students of their mission for sustainable development.

Walking through Masdar City's highly technological architecture, we seemed to glimpse the blueprint of future cities. This academic journey made us realize that true innovation lies in blending technology with humanities and grounding innovation in practical needs. In this land once known for oil, we saw possibilities that are more diverse and open.

Cultural Immersion: Strengthening the“Emotional Roots” of People-to-People Bonds

In the bustling alleys of Souq Waqif in Doha, along the pathways of Dubai Marina at sunset, within the quiet halls of the Louvre Abu Dhabi... a group of young students from Tsinghua University is quietly weaving the“emotional roots” of people-to-people bonds between China and the Middle East through questionnaires, songs, and cultural exchanges. Armed with bilingual questionnaires in Chinese and English, the team engaged in conversations with Qatari and Emirati citizens from diverse backgrounds about new energy. Though simple, the questionnaires became keys to unlocking dialogues. A Qatar teacher smiled upon seeing the question,“Would you be willing to cooperate with China on new energy?” and responded,“Why not?”-her eyes shining with anticipation for mutual benefit.

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Beyond questionnaires, the team prepared gifts rich in traditional Chinese culture: adorable panda pendants, exquisite Chinese knots, lifelike paper-cuttings, and cloth tigers symbolizing courage and resilience... These gifts from the East were not merely tokens of thanks but gentle knocks on the door of cultural exchange.“You can count on me, like one two three...” A light melody and sincere lyrics transcended language barriers, merging into a warm chorus under foreign skies. The tune of“Count On Me” lingered over MBZUAI, a testament that music knows no borders, only the resonance of youth and friendship.

The team also immersed themselves deeply in the rich cultural soil of the Middle East. They stepped softly into the Jumeirah Mosque, feeling the solemnity and serenity of Islamic architecture; strolled through Souq Waqif, listening to the pulse of modern life in ancient trading markets; and gazed at the“Rain of Light” dome in the Louvre Abu Dhabi, contemplating the blend of art and faith. This two-way cultural experience allowed the team not only to“step into” the Middle East but also to“step into” the spiritual world of its people.

Culture is never a one-way input or output but a sincere dialogue and empathy. This respect and understanding form the deepest“emotional roots” of people-to-people bonds. It grows quietly in every smile, every gift offered with both hands, every chorus joined in harmony. It requires no grand declarations but builds trust and friendship between peoples in the subtlest of ways. The“Weihai Yangxing” team's practice shows that the younger generation, with sincerity, openness, and humility, is becoming a disseminator of Chinese culture, a learner of Middle Eastern cultures, and a builder of people-to-people bonds. We measure the distance between civilizations with our footsteps, perceive the warmth of cultures with our hearts, and inject the most vibrant and enduring humanistic momentum into the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Epilogue: Seeking Wisdom in the Sands, Hearts Aligned Across Miles

The eleven-day journey unfurled like a silken scroll trembling gently in the Persian Gulf wind. We sought wisdom in the sands and seas, focusing on sustainable energy and AI governance; we forged emotional bonds along caravan routes, strengthening cultural mutual trust and youth friendship. May this journey plant a seed-in the desert and in our memories. When oasis shades flourish and caravan bells ring again, what we have seen and felt will surely grow into towering bridges connecting China and the Arab world, linking East and West.

Also published on Medium .

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