Abu Dhabi/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday made a brief stopover at Abu Dhabi to meet new Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two leaders shared a warm hug at the airport, and during talks reiterated their commitment to further deepen and diversify the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Prime Minister Modi made the stopover at Abu Dhabi on his return from Munich today. Prime Minister called on President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This was the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since August 2019 when Prime Minister visited Abu Dhabi last.
In a special gesture, the UAE ruler received the PM at the Abu Dhabi airport and also saw him off.
The Prime Minister in a tweet said he is touched “by the special gesture of my brother” Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of coming to receive him at Abu Dhabi airport.
The PM said in a tweet:
“I am touched by the special gesture of my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, of coming to welcome me at Abu Dhabi airport. My gratitude to him.”
The MEA spokesperson tweeted:
“In a special gesture, UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, accompanied by senior members of the Royal Family, was at Abu Dhabi airport for the interaction with PM.”
The main purpose of the visit was for Prime Minister to convey his personal condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan last month.
Prime Minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as well as family members including Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Dy Prime Minister, Sheikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, MD, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation among others.
The PM said in a tweet: “Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was a widely respected statesman who worked tirelessly for the people. In Abu Dhabi, expressed condolences on his demise to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. @MohamedBinZayed.”
Prime Minister Modi also congratulated Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his election as the third President of the UAE and becoming the Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
Both leaders reviewed various aspects of India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which they have carefully nurtured over the past few years.
During their Virtual Summit on February 18, both countries signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which has since entered into force on May 1.
CEPA is expected to further boost trade and investment between both countries. Bilateral trade in FY 2021-22 was about USD 72 billion. UAE is India’s third largest trade partner and second largest export destination. UAE FDI in India has continuously increased over the past few years and currently stands at over USD 12 billion.
During the Virtual Summit, both leaders had also released a Vision Statement which has laid the roadmap for bilateral cooperation in coming years in diverse areas including trade, investment, energy including renewable energy, food security, health, defence, skills, education, culture and people-to-people ties.
Both leaders expressed satisfaction that India and UAE continue to forge closer partnership in these areas building on their close and friendly relations and historical people-to-people connect. India-UAE have a strong energy partnership which is now acquiring new focus on renewable energy, an official statement said.
Prime Minister Modi thanked UAE President and Abu Dhabi Ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan for taking great care of 3.5 million Indian community in UAE especially during COVID-19 pandemic. He invited Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to visit India at an early date.
