The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation yesterday hosted the preparatory meeting of the 9th Joint Committee between the UAE and the Russian Federation.

The meeting was chaired by the Ambassador of the State of the Russian Federation to the Russian Federation, Mudad Hareb Mugheer Al-Khaili, and the Deputy Director of the Department of Bilateral Relations Development of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, Maxim Sinikov.

Al Khaili praised the great progress made in the bilateral relations between the UAE and Russia, pointing to the various forms of exchange between the two countries in the political, economic and cultural fields, stressing that they enjoy a strategic partnership and close visions.

He pointed to the importance of enhancing coordination between the civil aviation authorities in both countries to facilitate tourism, trade and economic growth, calling on the sub-committees held during the preparatory meeting to exert all possible efforts to identify additional means of cooperation, before President Vladimir Putin's visit to the UAE.

For his part, Sinikov thanked the UAE leadership for convening the committee meeting in order to further develop regional cooperation.

At the end of the meeting, the officials reviewed several memorandums of understanding and agreed to hold the tenth meeting of the committee in Russia.

The two countries have close relations at various levels, translated by official visits and diplomatic relations, particularly the historic visits of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to Moscow in March 2016 and June 2018.

The educational and cultural relations between the UAE and Russia are heading towards new horizons for the future. An important economic, political and scientific partner for the UAE, the two countries have pioneering experience in enabling scientific research and advanced science, embodying the leadership's leadership by promoting investment in modern science and technology to find innovative solutions to future challenges. In various development sectors, from visionary leadership to adopt a comprehensive development of the education sector, as an engine head to achieve sustainable growth and knowledge-based economy.

Among the most important educational agreements between the two countries, the signing of a research cooperation agreement between Khalifa University of Science and Technology and Moscow Institute of Energy Engineering, which aims to enhance cooperation and exchange of expertise in the fields of artificial intelligence and energy engineering and electric power, in line with strategies to promote economic diversification of the State and the Russian Federation, in addition to Activating the model of jointly addressing global challenges, which contributes to the development of great development at all levels.

The Emirates Skills team, comprising 18 young UAE nationals, participated in the World Skills Competition, which was launched in Kazan, Russia, last August. The students of the UAE School participated in the Junior Skills category in third place in four out of five skills and managed to win four. Bronze medals in the competition.

Regarding economic relations, Al Khaili pointed out that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries has grown significantly in recent years, as Russia ranked first among the trading partners of the State in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, while the UAE maintained its position as Russia's main trading partner in the Arabian Gulf 2018.

The UAE delegation underlined the joint efforts exerted to enhance investment between the two countries in the fields of traditional energy, renewable energy, infrastructure, basic metals, construction and food security.

The leaderships of the two countries are keen to open the door to joint investments in the sectors of trade, oil, gas and manufacturing, within the framework of the distinguished relations between them at all levels, which would support the process of partnership and encourage mutual investment.

The period witnessed the signing of several agreements, memorandums of understanding and economic, trade and investment protocols, which contributed to the increase in the volume of trade exchange between the two countries by the end of 2018 by 21% compared to 2017, reaching about three billion dollars.

The number of Russian companies registered and operating in the UAE about 3000 companies, all of which benefit from the UAE offers a variety of investment opportunities, in addition to the smooth laws, free zones, airports and modern facilities, which contributed to enhance the confidence of Russian companies in launching projects in the UAE.

The tourism sector is one of the most important sectors that reinforce the distinguished bilateral relations between the two countries, with the number of Russian tourists received by the UAE in 2018 to about 900 thousand visitors, while the number of Russian citizens residing in the country to about 40 thousand.

3000

Russian company registered and operating in the UAE.

40

The number of Russian citizens residing in the country.

Al Khaili: Achievement in the space sector reflects the development of UAE-Russian cooperation

The UAE's Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Mu'add Hareb Mughir Al Khaili, said that the UAE's historic achievement in the space sector reflects the development of bilateral and multifaceted cooperation between our country and Russia.

He added that President Vladimir Putin's visit to the UAE on Tuesday is a reflection of the distinguished strategic relations between the two countries, which is witnessing continuous growth and development in all fields.

He said that the mutual exemption from the visa of the entry of citizens of the two countries, contributed significantly to the increase in the number of Russian tourists to the UAE, where the number exceeded 900 thousand according to statistics last year. The number of Emirati tourists to Russia has also increased, arriving in several Russian cities, such as Moscow, Sochi and St. Petersburg.

As for the cooperation in the space sector between the UAE and Russia, he explained that it was manifested in the mission of Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati and Arab astronaut to the International Space Station, adding, “We are all pleased with this historic achievement in the space sector, which also reflects the development of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various Domains.

Abu Dhabi - WAM