DUBAI, July 31 (Xinhua) -- China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday pledged to enhance bilateral academic exchanges and cooperation in a bid to elevate the bilateral ties to a higher level.

The pledge came at a meeting between Chinese Ambassador to UAE Ni Jian and Jamal Sanad Al Suwaidi, director-general of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi.

The meeting, held at the ECSSR, discussed means of boosting cooperation between the ECSSR and Chinese academic centres as part of the think tank's efforts to promote communication with research centres across the world.

Ni said the China-UAE ties are at the best period of development following the recent state visit to the UAE by Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which the two sides agreed to upgrade the bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Chinese envoy reaffirmed China's wiliness to increase high-level and civilian exchanges with the UAE, and deepen bilateral communication and cooperation, in a bid to enrich the content of the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Al Suwaidi praised the growing relations between the two countries, while highlighting the importance of boosting academic exchanges as part of building a comprehensive strategic partnership.

He said the ECSSR is willing to make joint efforts with China to boost bilateral academic exchanges and cooperation so to elevate the bilateral ties to a higher level.