Abu Dhabi: India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed two agreements, including one on currency swap, on Tuesday. The deals were signed after India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed held discussions to step up bilateral cooperation in areas like security, defence, counter-terrorism, trade and energy.
Swaraj, who was on a two-day visit to UAE, arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday. She was received by Abdullah ahead of the UAE-India Joint Commission Meeting in Abu Dhabi.
Both the countries signed the currency swap agreement that allows trading in their own currencies and payments to import and export trade at pre-determined exchange rate, without bringing in a third benchmark currency like the US dollars.
An MEA official said the two leaders discussed several matters of mutual interests including defence, security, counter-terrorism, trade, economic, energy, science and technology, and civil aviation among others. Furthermore, both the nations agreed to undertake development projects in Africa.
Swaraj also called on Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Notably, this is the 12th session of the India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting for Economic and Technical Cooperation.
Special relations with UAE
EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on Crown Prince of #AbuDhabi, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Both expressed satisfaction at the pace of our bilateral relations in a range of areas, attesting to our comprehensive strategic partnership pic.twitter.com/7s2zJELrS6
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) December 4, 2018
Spokesperson of External Affairs Ministry Raveesh Kumar tweeted- “Advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership…EAM SushmaSwaraj & Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan co-chaired 12th India-UAE JCM. Held exhaustive discussions on cooperation in energy, security, trade, investments, space, defence & consular, among others.”
Advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
EAM @SushmaSwaraj & Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan co-chaired 12th India-UAE #JCM. Held exhaustive discussions on cooperation in energy, security, trade, investments, space, defence & consular, among others pic.twitter.com/XFpr8rOtsc
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) December 4, 2018
Reinforcing the strong bonds of friendship
EAM @SushmaSwaraj was warmly received by Foreign Minister of #UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on arrival at @OFMUAE for the #JCM. The ministers looked forward to continuing the trend to strengthen & seek partnership in new areas pic.twitter.com/yeagD1Xekb
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) December 4, 2018
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