External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paid an official visit to the UAE during which he held talks with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and both sides reviewed the multi-faceted India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
In a post on X, the EAM said they also discussed regional and global issues.
“Very pleased to meet UAE FM @ABZayed today in Abu Dhabi.
“Productive and deep conversations on our ever growing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Appreciated the discussion and his insights on regional and global issues.”
An official statement said, the visit follows the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the margins of the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy.
During the visit, EAM and the UAE Foreign Minister expressed happiness at the substantive progress in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation including commercial and economic collaboration, fintech, education, culture, and people-to-people connect.
They also discussed new areas with untapped potential for further enhancing collaboration. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues.
During the visit, EAM participated in the celebrations of the 10th International Day of Yoga in Abu Dhabi at Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi. The event, which was organised by the Embassy in partnership with Louvre Abu Dhabi, witnessed the presence of multiple nationalities.
EAM Jaishankar also visited the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, which was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 14 February 2024. EAM expressed appreciation that the Mandir has become an iconic cultural destination in the UAE with a large number of daily visitors. In less than four months, the Mandir has received one million visitors.
EAM’s visit to the UAE, within two weeks of his re-appointment, signifies the importance India attaches to its relations with the country. The visit marks the continuation of high-level contact between the two countries. Since July 2023, PM Narendra Modi has visited the UAE thrice and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has visited India twice.
Last year, we also witnessed important milestones in our bilateral relations like the implementation of a local currency trade settlement agreement, the launch of UAE’s domestic credit/debit card based on India’s RuPay card stack, the setting up of a campus of IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi, fintech collaboration, and commencement of work on IMEEC, among others, it said.
According to a readout of the UAE Foreign Ministry, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan congratulated S Jaishankar on his reappointment as External Affairs Minister of India.
“This came as the UAE Top Diplomat received Dr. S. Jaishankar for a working dinner in Abu Dhabi today, wherein they discussed further strengthening the long-standing friendship ties between the two countries. They reviewed the progress made in various areas of bilateral cooperation within the framework of the comprehensive strategic and economic partnership between the UAE and India.
“Sheikh Abdullah and Dr. Jaishankar explored the two countries’ efforts to strengthen joint cooperation in all sectors, including economic, trade, investment, education, culture, health, food security, renewable energy, and climate change.
“Sheikh Abdullah stressed that the UAE and India share a strong and strategic partnership, marked by growing momentum in bilateral cooperation. This collaboration, he added, is aimed at achieving comprehensive development and ensuring sustainable economic prosperity for both nations and their citizens.
“In 2017, the relationship between the two countries was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This significant development further deepened and strengthened the already strong ties based on a solid foundation of mutual understanding, trust, respect, and shared interests,” Sheikh Abdullah noted.
“The UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), launched in May 2022, has significantly boosted economic and trade cooperation in a way that supports the national development goals of both countries,” he added.
In a related context, Sheikh Abdullah and Dr. Jaishankar explored areas for collaboration within international organisations, while also exchanging views on current regional and international developments, including the situation in the Middle East,” it added.
