Paris: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has met with President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, to discuss bilateral relations and the latest regional and international developments.
The meeting was held during Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed’s two-day visit to the French capital, Paris.
During the meeting, Shaikh Mohammad conveyed the greetings of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to Macron, reiterating his congratulations to the French president and the people of France on a successful election.
الرئيس الفرنسي يودع محمد بن زايد لدى مغادرته قصر الأليزيه بباريس pic.twitter.com/eQsFMy7zEi
— أخبار محمد بن زايد (@MBZNews) June 21, 2017
Shaikh Mohammad said that the UAE attaches special importance to relations with France, and continually works to develop these ties across all fields, as they represent a distinctive example of friendly cooperation between states based on understanding, mutual respect and common interests.
The French President welcomed Shaikh Mohammad to Paris, hoping that this visit will contribute to closer cooperation between the two countries, and continuing discussions on regional and international issues of mutual concern. Macron conveyed his greetings to Shaikh Khalifa, wishing him good health and prosperity, and to the UAE and its friendly people, continued progress and development.
The meeting was also attended by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Shaikh Mohammad and Macron discussed strategic relations between the UAE and France, as well as developments in the region in the cultural, social, educational, economic and military fields.
The two parties also discussed ways to benefit from investment opportunities between the two countries.
Shaikh Mohammad said that his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron provided a renewed opportunity for dialogue on issues of mutual interest, coordination on current developments in the region, and cooperation with other countries for regional security and stability.
Greater depth
“Bilateral relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the Republic of France are not limited to the political, military and economic arenas. Rather, they include culture, education and scientific research.
"This provides a greater depth for our two friendly countries because culture and knowledge can help achieve rapprochement and enhance ties between people.
"Extremist and terrorist forces work to sabotage relations between people, religions, cultures and civilisations to serve a suspicious agenda that damages global security and peace,” Shaikh Mohammad stated.
He further noted that “both the UAE and France share close views and positions on challenges and risks that threaten the security of the Arabian Gulf, the wider Middle East and the entire world. Of these, the danger of extremism and terrorism stands out as it strikes anywhere in the world with no place spared.”
Curbing terror financial, intellectual resources
“It is time a decisive international position was taken to counter terrorist forces and organisations while drying up their financial and intellectual sources and resources and designating them as the greatest threat to global security and peace.
"That is because any hesitation in confronting this danger would mean that more innocent blood would be shed and more fear and violence would spread in the entire world.
“What gives us hope is that the world is now more aware of the dangers of terrorism and extremism, more prepared for settling the confrontation in its favour, and more knowledgeable about what it should do to counter this looming danger that targets all of us,” he added.
'Eliminating this disease'
He expressed hope that awareness would lead to the establishment of effective executive mechanisms “for eliminating this disease as soon as possible.”
He also appreciated Macron’s keen interest in promoting relations with the UAE in light of a great potential for expansion in economic and trade areas that have witnessed significant development over the past years.
“These relations are expected to grow significantly in the coming years, thanks to the common political will of the leaderships of the two friendly countries,” he said.
Other Emirati officials who attended the meeting include Dr Sultan Bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State; Ali Bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Supreme National Security Council; Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority; Mohammad Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Under-Secretary at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court, and Maadhad Hareb Mughair Al Khaiili, UAE Ambassador to France.
