Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Saturday successfully negotiated a $1.5 billion agreement with Abu Dhabi-based firm G42, which has ties to OpenAI and its chip-making ambitions.

The challenge lay in the company’s close associations with China and certain entities there, including the heavily restricted Huawei.

Nevertheless, Nadella secured the deal and even persuaded G42 to sever its connections with China.

In a statement, Microsoft President Brad Smith remarked, “We will integrate cutting-edge technology with leading standards for safe, trusted, and responsible AI, in close collaboration with the governments of both the UAE and the United States.”

Peng Xiao, Group Chief Executive Officer of G42, added, “Through Microsoft’s strategic investment, we are advancing our mission to deliver cutting-edge AI technologies at scale.”