ID :
355473
Wed, 01/28/2015 - 08:21
Auther :

Abdullah bin Zayed: UAE keen on deepening strategic ties with Australia

Abu Dhabi, 28 January 2015 (WAM): Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan received here yesterday Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who is currently on a visit to the UAE. The meeting touched on ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and ways to enhance them. Also discussed were means to develop economic and commercial relations and to promote joint investments. The two ministers exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments, as well as issues of mutual interest. In a joint press statement issued at the end of the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah welcomed the Australian minister and her accompanying delegation and extended greetings to the people of Australia on the anniversary of their country's national day. Sheikh Abdullah said, "The UAE and Australia enjoy strategic bilateral relations and today's meeting would further help in deepening them. I look forward to my upcoming visit to Australia in the coming few weeks." "The continuous visits by the leaderships in the two countries led to the remarkable development in their diplomatic relations since their establishment in 1975," he added. Sheikh Abdullah also expressed the hope to increase cooperation and strengthen ties with Australia in all fields. He emphasised the importance of relations between the UAE and Australia in the areas of education, healthcare and tourism, which, he said, had led to a significant increase in the number of Emirati students studying in Australia and the increase in the number of flights between the two countries. He highlighted the opportunities to increase investments in the two countries and urged for further work in this domain by signing a number of agreements, including the free trade agreement with the GCC countries, in addition to the agreements on investment protection and avoidance of double taxation. He also stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation with Australia on combating extremism and violence in the region. Bishop praised her country's progressive relations with the UAE. She said that she met several Australian investors in the UAE who were happy with the facilities offered to them here and welcomed the UAE investments in Australia. She also welcomed Sheikh Abdullah's next visit to Australia and lauded his efforts in countering extremism and violence. Bishop also said it was necessary to continue the efforts made to cut-off the sources of terrorism's funding and referred to the pivotal role played by Sheikh Abdullah in international conferences. On aviation, she said, "I am happy with the progress in bilateral relations which is reflected in the increasing number of flights between the countries, reaching 266 weekly flights by Emirates, Etihad Aiwars, Quantas and Virgin." She thanked Sheikh Abdullah for his condemnation of the terrorist attack at a Sydney Cafe. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates-international/1395275694007.html

X