External Affiars Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday held bilateral talks with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Mumbai and reaffirmed New Delhi’s support for every initiative encouraging peace through dialogue and diplomacy in the West Asia Region.
The two sides also discussed ways to enhance energy, trade and defence ties.
Al Nahyan, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, arrived in Mumbai on Monday evening for a two-day visit amid a recent surge in attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, believed to be carried out by Houthi rebels. Last week, Jaishankar had made a visit to the UAE, where he held discussions with the leaders of the Gulf country.
During his opening remarks at the meeting, Jaishankar said: “The situation in the Gulf remains a matter of deep concern… We continue to support free, safe and unimpeded flow of trade, energy and fertilizer. I would also like to thank you, and through you, the UAE leadership, for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community in the UAE.”
While noting how the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) established between India and the UAE has substantially boosted bilateral trade and financial ties, Jaishankar said that despite geopolitical challenges, the commercial partnership between the two nations continues to establish “new benchmarks”.
The bilateral trade has crossed the USD 100 billion mark since the signing of the CEPA, and two-way investments continue to grow, reflecting the confidence of our businesses in each other’s economies,” he said, adding, “Cooperation in defence, energy and technology is acquiring a strategic character.