Mohamed bin Zayed receives Australian Premier

Abu Dhabi: His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received on Monday, the visiting Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott. As he welcomed Abbott, Sheikh Mohamed expressed his hope that the visit would contribute to expanding cooperation and strengthening friendship relations between the two peoples and countries in all domains. Present at the meeting was Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. The two sides reviewed the existing relations between the UAE and Australia, especially in trade, economic and investment sectors, and ways to boost them for the benefit of the two friendly countries. The two sides underscored the importance of enhancing communication, coordination and of exchanging expertise and experiences, which would contribute to deliver development and open up broader horizons for bolstering bilateral relations. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi pointed out that success proves that the determination overcomes all obstacles, citing progress in relations between the UAE and Australia speaks for itself. They also reviewed the latest political events in the Middle East, where Sheikh Mohamed presented a holistic perspective for the surrounding political developments and the main challenges the region is facing. He also appreciated Australia's communication with the UAE and the region and its positive role in this regard as well. The Australian Prime Minister praised the UAE's progressive experiment in terms of world-class infrastructure and its institutional values, on which the renaissance was established. Sheikh Mohamed explained that the UAE's success is not only achieved by its wealth as there are many countries that had wealth, but the success the UAE has attained was inspired by the vision of its leadership that founded the experiment and the new generation of leaders is following the same principles. ''This provides the key factor behind the UAE's success story and its prosperous experiment,'' he added. The Australian prime minister expressed his happiness to visit the UAE, stressing his country's desire to further develop bilateral relations with the UAE in all fields. A number of senior officials attended the meeting. – Emirates News Agency, WAM