His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received Monday at Qasr Al Bahr, Lt. General Raymond Anthony Thomas, Commander of United States Special Operations Command, to review ways of boosting friendship and cooperation ties between the two countries.
The latest regional and international developments of common interest were on top of the meeting’s agenda, according to Emirates News Agency WAM.
Attending the meeting were Lt. General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, the Undersecretary of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, along with the accompanying delegation to the American guest.
Earlier in Islamabad, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held talks Sunday with Prime Minister Imran Khan, focusing on strengthening the relations between the UAE and Pakistan, in addition to the current regional and international developments.
Sheikh Mohamed affirmed his keenness to develop cooperation with Pakistan to serve the two countries' common interests.
“The UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, places great importance to strengthening its relations with Pakistan at various levels,” he said.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed his confidence in the development of the UAE-Pakistan relations in all sectors, commending the current level of economic and trade ties, noting that they are witnessing continuous growth. He also lauded both sides’ endeavors to further boost these relations in the future.
In December, the UAE deposited US$3 billion (equivalent to AED11 billion) in the State Bank of Pakistan to support the bank’s liquidity and foreign currency reserves. The move is an affirmation of the UAE's commitment - since the time of the Founding Father, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan- to stand by Pakistan.
The UAE, Sheikh Mohamed noted, focuses on supporting all efforts to achieve development, security and peace at regional and international levels through its constructive initiatives.
“We spare no effort to promote the values of tolerance, dialogue, coexistence and cooperation in the face of various regional and international challenges.”
At the beginning of the meeting, which was held at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad, Prime Minister Imran Khan welcomed Sheikh Mohamed’s visit, noting the strong relations between the two countries in several sectors, which were established by late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Sheikh Mohamed and Prime Minister Imran Khan explored various aspects of political, economic, investment and developmental relations and the possibility of enhancing them in multiple vital sectors, as well as intensifying coordination on new opportunities that serve the aspirations of the two countries.
Prime Minister of Pakistan held a luncheon in honor of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed and his accompanying delegation.
The meeting was attended by H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation; H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Pilot Staff-Brigadier Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the UAE National Service and Reserve Authority; along with other Ministers and senior officials.
Among those who also attended from the Pakistani side were Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi; Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Ghulam Sarwar Khan; Minister for Defense Production Zubaida Jalal Khan; Minister of Finance Asad Umar; Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua; Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi, and others.
