DUBAI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Cybersecurity Council of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed an agreement with Chinese telecom firm Huawei to strengthen cybersecurity and help establish the UAE as a leading global hub in this field.

       The two sides have agreed to work together in the area of cybersecurity, and cooperate in research and development through an independent think tank to be jointly established, according to the UAE state news agency WAM.

       This will help promote cybersecurity innovation, drive development in cybersecurity capabilities, and nurture a strong cybersecurity ecosystem, it reported.

       Mohammad Hamad Al Kuwaiti, head of the UAE Cybersecurity, said that "the agreement with Huawei is in line with our mission of developing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy and creating a safe and strong cyber-infrastructure in the UAE. This step will also help establish the UAE as a leading global hub for cybersecurity."

       Aloysius Cheang, the chief security officer at Huawei UAE, noted that Huawei is committed to supporting the UAE's efforts as the country accelerates its digital transformation journey. "Cyber threats are continuously changing and our agreement with the UAE will help us work towards providing a cybersecurity ecosystem that is safe and secure," he said.