ID :
128413
Thu, 06/17/2010 - 13:45
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Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/128413
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David Cameron: Friendship, history and interests unite Britain and the UAE
Abu Dhabi, June 17, 2010 (WAM)- British Prime Minister David Cameron said ties with the UAE are strong and "there are close bonds between our people and our businesses." Cameron, in an article published today by the English language daily newspaper, The National, added that "UK and its friends, like the UAE, should stand united against common threats to our security. So working together towards stability in Afghanistan, the Gulf and the wider Middle East is a priority." The British Prime Minister stressed that the common future of the UK and the UAE "involves ever closer co-operation on trade and investment."
He said he is delighted by UAE investment in iconic projects and businesses such as the London Gateway, set to be one of Europe's largest port and logistics complexes; Manchester City, one of the world's great football teams; and Virgin Galactic, a company aiming to give people a literally out-of-this-world experience.
Expanding two-way trade between the UAE and the UK to £12 billion (Dh65 billion) by 2015 "should be just a start," the British Prime Minister added.
Following is the full text of David Cameron's article.
Nearly 40 years ago, under a Conservative prime minister, the United Kingdom signed a treaty of friendship with the United Arab Emirates. It strengthened a relationship born of a shared history and common interests and values which endure today. So I was pleased last week to visit the UAE to reaffirm that friendship and to discuss our common future with Their Highnesses President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and other sheikhs.
Our ties are strong and there are close bonds between our people and our businesses. As inhabitants of political unions we both understand the value of cultural tolerance and national diversity. As global trading hubs, we both value openness to international ideas and experience. And as lovers of sport we share passions for football, motor racing and horse racing.
More than one million Britons visit the UAE every year and around 100,000 live here. Thousands of Emiratis, too, come to the UK as tourists and students or to do business. The UAE remains Britain's largest export market in the Middle East and our 13th largest in the world. It's also a key source of foreign direct investment into Britain. Meanwhile, UK oil companies BP and Shell have worked with Abu Dhabi for more than 70 years and Rolls-Royce turbines have powered Abu Dhabi oil production since 1973.
I want to build on this strong foundation. That is why the British Defence Minister, Liam Fox, also visited the UAE last week, why the Foreign Minister, William Hague, met His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed yesterday in London and why visiting the UAE was one of my first priorities as British prime minister. Our shared history is significant. But our common future is even more important.
That means close co-operation on defence and security. In the 1950s, our armed forces fought side-by-side protecting UAE territory. Today they serve bravely alongside one another in Afghanistan. For years, they have trained together both here and in venerable UK institutions such as Sandhurst; personal connections are strong.
Underpinning this collaboration is a fundamental belief that the UK and its friends, like the UAE, should stand united against common threats to our security. So working together towards stability in Afghanistan, the Gulf and the wider Middle East is a priority. We both believe, for example, that it is essential that Iran complies with UN Security Council resolutions. Iran could also convince others of its peaceful and good neighbourly intentions by agreeing to seek a just solution to the issue of the three disputed islands long requested by the UAE, the UK and the international community.
Our common future involves ever closer co-operation on trade and investment. I am delighted by UAE investment in iconic projects and businesses such as the London Gateway, set to be one of Europe's largest port and logistics complexes; Manchester City, one of the world's great football teams; and Virgin Galactic, a company aiming to give people a literally out-of-this-world experience. And I am delighted that UK expertise contributed to the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Dubai Metro and the UAE's iconic Expo Pavilion in Shanghai. But I want to see much, much more. Expanding two-way trade to ?12 billion (Dh65 billion) by 2015 should be just a start.
Our common future entails close co-operation on future energy needs. This will involve hydrocarbons - I am proud of BP's and Shell's long history of working with the UAE - and renewable energy. Masdar is already investing in the London Array, the world's largest offshore wind farm. Rolls-Royce is supporting the UAE's civil nuclear programme, itself a model which incorporates strong international safeguards. I look forward to strengthening this co-operation in both new and existing fields as we tackle the threat posed by global warming - building on our shared association with the 2009 Copenhagen Accord.
His Highness Sheikh Zayed wisely said: "He who does not know his past cannot make the best of his present and future, for it is from the past that we learn." So I am delighted that the British Museum is partnering with the Sheikh Zayed National Museum and that British archaeologists continue to work with Emiratis to uncover the UAE's fascinating past. Many UK universities are establishing a presence here and many have been able to enhance the excellence of the education they offer, thanks to donations from the Emirates. Institutions like the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre and Moorfields Eye Clinic are now both established in the UAE and in Britain. We will be working to extend our partnerships with the UAE in education, health and other areas to develop our united vision.
This vision can be realised through re-energising the partnership between our governments, armed forces, businesses, cultural and educational institutions and citizens. Starting with their meeting in London yesterday, the foreign ministers of the UK and the UAE will work closely together to agree concrete proposals for broader and deeper co-operation.
My government looks forward to welcoming more Emirati ministers, officials and business people to Britain. For our part, we will be even more frequent visitors to the UAE and we will encourage even more Britons to visit and to engage with the Emirates. Sheikh Zayed once said of the UAE: "This union will remain forever." I believe that is also true of the friendship between our two great unions - the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom." – Emirates News Agency, WAM
He said he is delighted by UAE investment in iconic projects and businesses such as the London Gateway, set to be one of Europe's largest port and logistics complexes; Manchester City, one of the world's great football teams; and Virgin Galactic, a company aiming to give people a literally out-of-this-world experience.
Expanding two-way trade between the UAE and the UK to £12 billion (Dh65 billion) by 2015 "should be just a start," the British Prime Minister added.
Following is the full text of David Cameron's article.
Nearly 40 years ago, under a Conservative prime minister, the United Kingdom signed a treaty of friendship with the United Arab Emirates. It strengthened a relationship born of a shared history and common interests and values which endure today. So I was pleased last week to visit the UAE to reaffirm that friendship and to discuss our common future with Their Highnesses President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and other sheikhs.
Our ties are strong and there are close bonds between our people and our businesses. As inhabitants of political unions we both understand the value of cultural tolerance and national diversity. As global trading hubs, we both value openness to international ideas and experience. And as lovers of sport we share passions for football, motor racing and horse racing.
More than one million Britons visit the UAE every year and around 100,000 live here. Thousands of Emiratis, too, come to the UK as tourists and students or to do business. The UAE remains Britain's largest export market in the Middle East and our 13th largest in the world. It's also a key source of foreign direct investment into Britain. Meanwhile, UK oil companies BP and Shell have worked with Abu Dhabi for more than 70 years and Rolls-Royce turbines have powered Abu Dhabi oil production since 1973.
I want to build on this strong foundation. That is why the British Defence Minister, Liam Fox, also visited the UAE last week, why the Foreign Minister, William Hague, met His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed yesterday in London and why visiting the UAE was one of my first priorities as British prime minister. Our shared history is significant. But our common future is even more important.
That means close co-operation on defence and security. In the 1950s, our armed forces fought side-by-side protecting UAE territory. Today they serve bravely alongside one another in Afghanistan. For years, they have trained together both here and in venerable UK institutions such as Sandhurst; personal connections are strong.
Underpinning this collaboration is a fundamental belief that the UK and its friends, like the UAE, should stand united against common threats to our security. So working together towards stability in Afghanistan, the Gulf and the wider Middle East is a priority. We both believe, for example, that it is essential that Iran complies with UN Security Council resolutions. Iran could also convince others of its peaceful and good neighbourly intentions by agreeing to seek a just solution to the issue of the three disputed islands long requested by the UAE, the UK and the international community.
Our common future involves ever closer co-operation on trade and investment. I am delighted by UAE investment in iconic projects and businesses such as the London Gateway, set to be one of Europe's largest port and logistics complexes; Manchester City, one of the world's great football teams; and Virgin Galactic, a company aiming to give people a literally out-of-this-world experience. And I am delighted that UK expertise contributed to the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Dubai Metro and the UAE's iconic Expo Pavilion in Shanghai. But I want to see much, much more. Expanding two-way trade to ?12 billion (Dh65 billion) by 2015 should be just a start.
Our common future entails close co-operation on future energy needs. This will involve hydrocarbons - I am proud of BP's and Shell's long history of working with the UAE - and renewable energy. Masdar is already investing in the London Array, the world's largest offshore wind farm. Rolls-Royce is supporting the UAE's civil nuclear programme, itself a model which incorporates strong international safeguards. I look forward to strengthening this co-operation in both new and existing fields as we tackle the threat posed by global warming - building on our shared association with the 2009 Copenhagen Accord.
His Highness Sheikh Zayed wisely said: "He who does not know his past cannot make the best of his present and future, for it is from the past that we learn." So I am delighted that the British Museum is partnering with the Sheikh Zayed National Museum and that British archaeologists continue to work with Emiratis to uncover the UAE's fascinating past. Many UK universities are establishing a presence here and many have been able to enhance the excellence of the education they offer, thanks to donations from the Emirates. Institutions like the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre and Moorfields Eye Clinic are now both established in the UAE and in Britain. We will be working to extend our partnerships with the UAE in education, health and other areas to develop our united vision.
This vision can be realised through re-energising the partnership between our governments, armed forces, businesses, cultural and educational institutions and citizens. Starting with their meeting in London yesterday, the foreign ministers of the UK and the UAE will work closely together to agree concrete proposals for broader and deeper co-operation.
My government looks forward to welcoming more Emirati ministers, officials and business people to Britain. For our part, we will be even more frequent visitors to the UAE and we will encourage even more Britons to visit and to engage with the Emirates. Sheikh Zayed once said of the UAE: "This union will remain forever." I believe that is also true of the friendship between our two great unions - the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom." – Emirates News Agency, WAM
