ID :
396176
Sat, 02/06/2016 - 10:23
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Abdullah bin Zayed: Ties with Argentina are strong, based on history of shared interests

ABU DHABI, 6th February, 2016 (WAM) --- H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, has stressed that the friendship relations between the UAE and Argentina are strong and based on a long history of fruitful interactions, shared economic and international interests. He highlighted that the two countries are also bound together by strong common economic interests as non-oil trade between them reached US$260 million in 2014, with a great potential for more. Sheikh Abdullah made the remarks, to be published by Clarin newspaper, on the occasion of his visit to Argentina. The following is the full text of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed's article: "The bonds of friendship between the UAE and Argentina are strong. They are based on a long history of fruitful interactions and our shared economic and international interests. I am delighted to be visiting Argentina in order to renew these bonds and to extend the UAE’s warmest congratulations to the new Argentinian Government, led by Mauricio Macri, on its recent election. We in the UAE look forward to working with President Macri and believe that together we will be able to achieve much for our two countries and people. We, in the Middle East, have for long valued Argentina’s positive engagement in favour of peace and security in our region, and in particular Argentina’s extensive support for the Palestinian cause. To this day, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains one of the greatest drivers of conflict and instability in our region. Unfortunately, there is still too little attention that is being paid to this issue that continues to divide the region. Argentina, as a significant voice from outside the region, can play an important role in focusing the world’s attention on this vital issue and suggest new and innovative ways forward. Argentina and the UAE also have an important role to play when it comes to enhancing the multilateral cooperation between our two regions. The recent Summit of the South American and Arab Countries (ASPA) in Riyadh last November, demonstrated the many commonalities and friendly bonds that exist between our two regions. We look forward to working with Argentina to enhance regional cooperation, following the Riyadh Summit. The UAE and Argentina are also bound together by our strong common economic interests. In 2014, non-oil trade between our two countries reached US$260 million and there is great potential for more. The UAE sees itself as the future gateway for Argentinian products in the Middle East. The Argentinian Trade Office at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai and the UAE Trade Office in Santa Fe have both played an important role in allowing our bilateral trade to rise to its current level; and in the future, they will undoubtedly play an significant role in pushing our bilateral trade and investment to new heights. For a number of years, the UAE has been a world leader in the important field of renewable energy, and has consistently sought to strengthen international cooperation as well as to provide strong responses to the critical issue of climate change. In fact, the UAE sees promising opportunities to cooperate with Argentina in the renewable energy sector. In this regard, the US$15 million financing made by Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, in collaboration with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), in the Nahave hydropower project, is a strong indicator of what we hope to achieve through close cooperation between our two countries in protecting our environment for future generations. The impacts of climate change cannot be understated or ignored, and the UAE considers Argentina to be a key international partner in overcoming this challenge in the years ahead. I look forward to exploring exciting new opportunities and developing shared solutions in this crucial field. Through this visit, I hope that we can lay the foundation for a bright and dynamic future together, built upon the foundations of respect, trust, and equality." – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395291190843.html

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