UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, received Thursday at Qasr Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu.

During the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed and the French Minister discussed the growing defense cooperation between the two countries that have contributed to strengthening their bilateral relations and cooperation.

The two sides also exchanged views on a number of issues of interest, UAE national news agency reported.

The meeting was attended by H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court; H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Special Affairs Advisor at the Presidential Court; and Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defense Affairs; Khaldoun Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, Member of the Executive Council, along with a number of officials and the delegation accompanying the French Minister.

For his part, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, UAE Minister of State for Defense Affairs, also received the visiting French Defense Minister at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

During the meeting, they reviewed the prospects of developing bilateral relations in various fields, with special emphasis on areas of defense.

A number of issues of common concern featured high in the meeting.