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Shaikh Abdullah is greeted by Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade in Vancouver. Image Credit: WAM

Vancouver: Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, met in Vancouver with Edward Fast, Canadian Minister for International Trade, as part of his current official visit to Canada.

James Moore, Canadian Minister of Industry, was present during the meeting.

During the meeting held on Tuesday, both parties discussed bilateral relations between the UAE and Canada and ways of developing and strengthening them, especially areas of transport, infrastructure and ports, and encouraging investments to serve the benefit of the two friendly peoples.

Shaikh Abdullah highlighted the importance of exchanged visits between the two friendly countries, and expressed the UAE’s keenness to boost cooperation and all that would encourage investments and diversify areas of cooperation to serve the common interests of both sides.

Fast commended the level of trade and economic growth of the UAE, noting the developmental projects implemented in the private and public sectors and highlighting Canada’s desire to expand areas of cooperation with the UAE at various levels.

Shaikh Abdullah and his accompanying delegation later attended a reception hosted by the Canadian Minister of International Trade in Shaikh Abdullah’s honour.

Shaikh Abdullah then visited the headquarters of Taqa North, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, Taqa, in Calgary, Alberta.

During the visit, Shaikh Abdullah was accompanied by John Baird, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Shaikh Abdullah then attended a talks session which was held at the headquarters of Taqa North under the title ‘Energy Security’, in the presence of the Canadian Foreign Minister and a number of officials from the two sides.


Areas of cooperation

During the meeting, they reviewed areas of cooperation between the UAE and Canada, especially in the oil and gas, renewable energy, investment and economic fields, as well as health, education, infrastructure, agriculture and food security.

They also discussed the current global energy supply situation, aspirations and expectations over the next ten or twenty years, as well as reviewing reports issued by the Canadian private sector in this regard.

At the conclusion of his visit to Alberta, Shaikh Abdullah met with Dave Hancock, Alberta’s Premier.

The two sides reviewed bilateral relations between the UAE and Canada and ways of developing and strengthening them to serve the common interests between the two countries.