Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Thursday received Emmanuel Macron, President of France.
Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, was present.
During the meeting held at Zabeel Palace, Shaikh Mohammad and Macron held talks on the strategic partnership between the UAE and France and ways to develop it in all fields for the benefit of both countries’ peoples. Shaikh Mohammad welcomed Macron’s visit to the UAE, which he described as historic. Shaikh Mohammad said that the visit complements the cooperation and friendly relations between both nations and their peoples. He stressed that France has been the UAE’s friend and partner for many decades.
Shaikh Mohammad said: “We are the French president’s partner and friend. Our friendship is strong and based on mutual respect and joint national interests for both our citizens. We are proud of this friendship, and Macron’s visit to the UAE signifies the sincere and shared sentiments between the leaders of both nations and their peoples.”
Meanwhile, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, met the French president and discussed with him cooperation and friendly relations as well as overall regional developments.
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed and Macron discussed bilateral relations and ways to boost them based on their strong friendship and mutual strategic interests.
Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Shaikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser, were present at the meeting.
The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince expressed his thanks and appreciation to the French president for his presence at the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum, which is one of the main pillars of the UAE-French developed relations and another token of friendship and cooperation between them.
He also expressed his thanks to the French government, its friendly people and all employees who have accomplished this huge project, for their constructive cooperation and sincere efforts.
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi also expressed his appreciation for the French government’s commitment to strengthen the UAE-French historical ties, enhance their strategic partnership and build on the history of their cooperation.
“The UAE’s relationship with France is strong, solid and historic, and is growing at every stage, thanks to the attention and care given by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and his keenness to take these relations into new heights”, Shaikh Mohammad said.
Shaikh Mohammad affirmed that his meeting with the French president is yet another renewed opportunity for dialogue and exchange of views and ideas on all regional and international issues of mutual concern, adding that the UAE-French coordination on these issues and developments going on in the region serve the efforts being made by sisterly and friendly countries to establish security and stability in the region.
On his part, Macron expressed his pleasure at visiting the UAE and participating in the inauguration of the Louvre Abu Dhabi as well as discussing mutual issues with Shaikh Mohammad such as the joint cooperation and their growing bilateral relations on all levels.
Both leaders stressed the need to further strengthen their cultural, social, educational and economic relations and develop bilateral cooperation, support joint work, exchange experience and expertise in all fields and make maximum use of the investment opportunities in both countries in the framework of their strategic and model relations.
They also stressed the importance of cooperation and coordination on regional and international issues of common concern in order to achieve peace, security, stability and good for the region.
The meeting was attended by Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority; Maadhad Hareb Mughair Al Khaili, UAE Ambassador to France; Omar Saif Gobash, UAE Ambassador to the Russian Federation; and Mohammad Mubarak Al Mazroui, undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court.
Earlier in the day, Macron visited Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and toured different places in Abu Dhabi including a naval base. Meanwhile, his wife Brigitte Macron visited Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque and met Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.