Strategic plan gets final touches

Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai chaired a Cabinet meeting, which concluded on Wednesday night following discussions on the federal government strategic plan.

The Cabinet put finishing touches to the strategy, which aims at improving the government's performance and boosting the social, educational and health programmes of various federal ministries and institutions.

Various ministries have worked hard for six months to put the plan together. It was divided into six sectors, including social development, economic development, justice and safety, governmental development, infrastructure sector development and development of remote areas.

After the meeting, Shaikh Mohammad and members of the Cabinet moved to the private resort of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and Minister of Fin-ance and Industry, who hosted a dinner banquet in honour of the Cabinet members.

Yesterday, Shaikh Mohammad received visiting Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and his accompanying delegation.

Balanced policy

Shaikh Mohammad and Saakashvili discussed bilateral relations and international cooperation in security, peace and economic development.

Shaikh Mohammad stressed the open and balanced policy of the UAE, which aims to build international relations based on trust, respect and mutual benefit, and extending bridges of human communication to build economic cooperation in all fields.

The Georgian president commended the developed infrastructure and civilised progress of Dubai.

Shaikh Mohammad also received Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis yesterday. He said that the visit is a good step and paves the way for beneficial relations between the two countries in all fields, especially economy, commerce and tourism.

The Greek minister expressed her country's wish to develop cooperation with the UAE in the public and private sectors.

Bakoyannis was also received by Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, in Abu Dhabi yesterday. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral ties in various areas and ways to boost them.