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Abu Dhabi / WAM
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received Edouard Philippe, Prime Minister of France, who is currently on a visit to the UAE, in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed welcomed the French Prime Minister and discussed ties of friendship and strategic co-operation and ways to enhance them.
The meeting, attended by HH Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court, and HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, saw discussions on progress of co-operation between the UAE and France in cultural, educational, economic and political domains and the mutual keenness to drive this co-operation into wider horizons.
The two sides also exchanged views on current regional and international developments, as well as issues of mutual interest, including promoting concepts of peace, tolerance, amity, co-existence and spreading peace and security.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE attaches great importance to its relations with France and seeks to push their joint co-operation. He described the two countries’ relations as “a shining model for relations based on understanding, trust, respect and mutual benefits.”
The French Prime Minister said he was pleased to visit Abu Dhabi, praising the progressive relations between the two countries and the joint cultural schemes such as Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.
He added that his country was looking forward to expanding its partnership with the UAE to levels that will meet the aspirations of the leadership in the two countries.
The meeting was attended by Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs; Dr Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority; Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Under-Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court; Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Global Market and Omer Saif Ghobash, UAE Ambassador to France. From the French side, it was attended by Florence Parly, Minister of Armies, Ludovic Pouille, French Ambassador to the UAE, and a number of senior officials.
French Prime Minister visits Wahat Al Karama
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe visited on Saturday Abu Dhabi’s Wahat Al Karama, the national landmark built to immortalise the sacrifices of the UAE’s brave heroes.
The French prime minister was received by Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Director of The Martyrs’ Families’ Affairs Office at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court.
The visit began with the Honour Guard performing a ceremony, after which Edouard Philippe laid a wreath before the Memorial, the monument made up of 31 massive aluminum panels leaning on one another to symbolise solidarity between the people and the leadership of the UAE.
Accompanied by Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoun, he toured the site’s prominent areas. He concluded his visit by signing the visitors’ log and lauded the UAE’s heroes for their noble sacrifices and inspiring bravery in the face of adversity.