(Kazan) – H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has led a UAE delegation to the eighth session of the UAE-Russian Federation Joint Committee held in Kazan. The Russian delegation was headed by Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
During the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Russian Minister and his accompanying delegation for their hospitality and hosting of the UAE-Russia Joint Committee meeting. “The Russian federation enjoys a great deal of respect and appreciation from the UAE and its people,” he added.
His Highness went on to say that the bilateral relations between the two countries continue to develop across various sectors, including the political, trade and investment, culture, science and technology.
He highlighted the close cooperation between the two countries across the strategic military and security industry, and the signing of multiple bilateral agreements between the two nations during His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces’, visit and meeting with President Vladimir Putin in early June.
Sheikh Abdullah praised the successes attained in the previous Joint Committee meetings, adding that by exploring opportunities for cooperation and providing practical suggestions and solutions to overcome challenges, bilateral ties have expanded.
He emphasised the continued need to follow up on the outcomes of Joint Committee meetings, and to further build upon said outcomes to promote bilateral relations between the two countries.
His Highness noted the total value of non-oil trade between the two countries reaches US$2.5 billion in 2017, compared to that of $2.1 billion in 2016. These results, he added, provide an incentive to enhance joint efforts in the public and private sectors of both nations, revitalising trade exchange and stimulating growth via the use of trade and investment agreements.
He stressed the UAE’s interest in encouraging organisations and people in business to invest in Russia, as well as to attract Russian investment to the country.
Sheikh Abdullah extended an invitation to Minister Manturov and his delegation to visit Abu Dhabi for the next Joint Committee meeting.
