Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, UAE Minister of State for Defense Affairs, received Sunday Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces, and her delegation.

 During the meeting, Al Bowardi and Parly discussed mutual cooperation between the UAE and France in the areas of defense and the military, as well as several regional and international issues, and developments in a number of topics of mutual concern, Emirates News Agency WAM reported.

 Both sides then attended the signing of a legal document between the ministries of defense of the UAE and France, which stipulates the exchange of liaison officers to assist in operational communications and military cooperation between the two parties, on the sidelines of the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the bilateral defense agreement between the UAE and France, held at Al Salam Base in Abu Dhabi.

 Al Bowardi stressed that the ties between the UAE and France are witnessing increased development, especially in the areas of defense and the military, noting that the agreement reflects the keenness of the Ministry of Defense to reinforce its ties with its partners.

 Parly highlighted the importance of reinforcing and supporting mutual cooperation between the two countries, especially in the areas of defense and the military.

 Earlier, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received on Saturday the French Minister of Armed Forces.

 His Highness Sheikh Mohamed and the French Minister discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation between the UAE and France, particularly in defense and military fields.

 The two sides also discussed a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest and exchanged views on the current developments in the region and the international efforts to address them.

 The French Minister offered condolences on the death of Sheik Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Sheikh Mohamed, who thanked her for her sincere and noble feelings.

The meeting was attended by Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defense Affairs, Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Under-secretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court and Ludovic Pouille, Ambassador of France to the UAE.

 For his part, Major General Mohammed Saleh Megren Al Ameri, Commander of the UAE Land Forces, also received in his office Sunday, General Thierry Burkhard, Chief-of-Staff of the French Land Forces and his delegation, during their visit to UAE.

 During the meeting, Major General Al Ameri welcomed General Burkhard, and both sides discussed their joint military and defense cooperation and ways of further developing them.

 They also discussed several topics of mutual concern, due to the keenness of the leaderships of the UAE and France to enhance their friendship and cooperation.