President Khalifa holds talks with Argentine President

Abu Dhabi, Jan 15, 2013 (WAM) - The UAE and Argentina yesterday emphasised their interest in enhancing cooperation on economy, investment, tourism and renewable energy as well as in increasing their trade exchange and investment opportunities in light of their potential. This came during talks held at Al-Diyafa Palace in Al-Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the visiting President of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, in presence of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President's Representative and His Highness Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Welcoming the Argentine President and the accompanying delegation, President Sheikh Khalifa expressed the hope that the visit would contribute to enhancing friendly relations and cooperation between the UAE and her country and would open up new and wider venues for cooperation in different spheres. His Highness the President emphasised the UAE's interest in strengthening relations with Argentina, noting that these relations will see expanded cooperation and development in the future. The talks discussed ways to enhance and promote economic, investment, tourism and renewable energy relations, in particular, working towards increasing trade exchange and investment opportunities in light of the potential of both countries and tapping the available encouraging potential in order to promote cooperation in service of the common interests. Views on a number of matters of common interest and the latest regional and the latest international developments were also discussed. The Argentine President expressed her pleasure at visiting the UAE and at meeting President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. She hailed the UAE's achievements and progress in different spheres and its overall rapid development which, she said, had earned it an outstanding regional and international position, thanks to the wise leadership of His Highness President Khalifa. President Kirchner also expressed her country's desire to build bridges for cooperation with the UAE and creating more opportunities for economic, investment and tourism cooperation, in particular. She noted that there are encouraging signs for both countries can build a fruitful partnership that serves the common interests of both countries and yield benefits for their friendly peoples. Underlining the significance of the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, she said the UAE is at the forefront of renewable energy efforts. She also noted Abu Dhabi's hosting of the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). She said hosting this global event reflects the UAE's international position in organising big events. The two Presidents witnessed the signing of a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the UAE government and the Argentine government on cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear power. The MoU was signed by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Foreign Minister, and Argentinean Minister of Foreign Relations '&' Worship, Hector Marcos Timerman. An agreement on air transport services was signed by Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, the UAE Minister of Economy, and Timerman, while another agreement was signed by Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, the UAE Minister of Environment and Water, and the Argentine Minister of Agriculture, Norberto Yauhar. Another agreement was signed between the Argentine Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE - the National Space Activities Commission) and the UAE's Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) on the peaceful use of outer space. - Emirates News Agency, WAM