China has struck a strategic partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday as Wen Jiabao, the first Chinese premier to ever visit the country, vowed to deepen relationship with all Arab nations.

The establishment of the strategic partnership was a top priory of his visit, Wen told Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Tuesday morning.

Since the establishment of bilateral relations 28 years ago, the UAE has developed into the second-largest trade partners of China in the Arab world, said Wen.

Under the new strategic relationship, the two parties will expand the cooperation in many areas, including oil and gas trading and development and the researches on new energy, according to Wen.

China also encourages Chinese companies to invest more in the infrastructure construction in the country and advance trade ties with the region.

Wen’s visit to the UAE, which concluded as he travelled to Qatar on Wednesday, followed a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, Beijing’s top oil supplier.

The Chinese premier’s visit to the Gulf region, the world’s largest source of oil deposits and natural gas reserves, came as tensions between western powers and Iran, a major oil producer and suppliers to Beijing have brought with uncertainties in the oil and gas markets.

China imported a quarter of its oil in the first 11 months of 2011 from the three Arab nations.

Stability and peace in the Gulf region is vital in ensuring global energy stability, Wen told the Fifth World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

He is the most senior Chinese leader to have attended the summit.