India extols ties ahead of Abdullah’s visit

Delhi acknowledges UAE as third-largest trading partner and sixth-largest supplier of its energy needs

India yesterday expressed confidence that the upcoming visit of Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, “would provide the two sides with an opportunity to further strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”.

Raveesh Kumar, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, warmly recalled Shaikh Abdullah’s visit to India in September 2015.

Shaikh Abdullah had also accompanied His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to India in February 2016 and in January 2017.

Shaikh Abdullah’s visit is scheduled from June 24 to 30. He will be accompanied by a senior-level delegation. Apart from the official programme in New Delhi, the visit also includes engagements in other states of India.

During the visit, Shaikh Abdullah will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hold official talks with External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj. He will also be meeting several Indian Cabinet ministers, governors and chief ministers of states he is slated to visit, according to the announcement.

The Ministry of External Affairs asserted: “India and the UAE enjoy warm, close and multi-faceted relations underpinned by historic, cultural, religious and economic linkages. The UAE is India’s third-largest trading partner and sixth-largest supplier of our energy needs.”