UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have discussed to take the strategic partnership between the UAE and India to the next level, following the signing last year of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries.
During their meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Modi’s visit as an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral ties for the benefit of both nations and their people – across economic, investment, development and renewable energy fields, as well as health, food security, education, and advanced technology.
The two leaders explored opportunities to accelerate the growth in relations between the UAE and India and ways to encourage further bilateral ties at the people-to-people level.
During the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed and Modi exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues, stating that the UAE and India remain key supporters of all efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability throughout the region and the world. Both sides stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in reaching peaceful solutions to disputes and ensuring the safety and security of societies affected by conflict and crises.
They also discussed the COP28 climate conference to be hosted by the UAE later this year. Sheikh Mohamed noted that given its influential role within the international community, India’s active participation at COP28 was eagerly anticipated, and the UAE was looking forward to exploring ways to expand upon the two countries’ constructive cooperation in the field of climate action.
He thanked Modi for India's support for the cooperative relationship between the UAE and both the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS group, and also expressed his appreciation for the UAE being invited to participate as a guest in the work of the G20 under India’s presidency in 2023. The UAE President stated his confidence that India's active leadership of the group during the current year will have an important impact on producing results that are in the interest of the whole world.
The Indian Prime Minister reaffirmed his wish to continue working with Sheikh Mohamed to advance UAE-India relations with the aim of achieving the sustainable development ambitions of both sides.
Sheikh Mohamed and Modi also witnessed the exchange of three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at catalyzing further collaboration and partnerships between the two countries.