Putin lauds strong UAE-Russia ties

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, and President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Tuesday held an official meeting at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi.
His Highness welcomed the Russian President and his accompanying delegation. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed expressed his hopes that Putin’s visit to the UAE would achieve the set goals and objectives to bolster UAE-Russia ties across multiple sectors, in the interest of the two countries and their friendly peoples.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments, focusing on the Gulf and Middle East region, as well as discussions of a political, security, and economic nature of interest to both parties.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed also conveyed the greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to President Putin. He affirmed that UAE-Russia ties have strong foundations based on mutual trust and respect, further bolstered by various exchange visits.
His Highness added that that the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, is keen on further developing relations with Russia across multiple sectors.
The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince went on to note the Declaration of Strategic Partnership signed between the two countries in 2018, as well as other partnerships across multiple sectors, are an indication of the vested interest the two countries have as a policy to further broadening collaboration.
President Putin expressed his happiness on visiting the UAE. He went on to praise His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s continued support to bolster relations between the two countries.

He praised the fruitful UAE-Russian cooperation in the space sciences and industry, which culminated in the successful space mission of the first Emirati astronaut to the International Space Station.

His Highness said that there are many strategic factors that bring the UAE and Russia together, which contribute to the strengthening of relations and maximising their returns.
The UAE and Russia, Sheikh Mohamed added, agree on the need to confront the threat of terrorism and extremism that are a threat to global peace and security.
He added that the security of the Arab Gulf region not only of regional interest, but also of global importance, given the great strategic relevance for global economies. His Highness stressed that the UAE is keen on ensuring that global oil supplies and global maritime navigation continue without disruption.
The Russian President met with UAE astronauts Hazza Al Mansoori and Sultan Al Neyadi on the sidelines of the visit.
Putin expressed his happiness on visiting the UAE, and wished the two astronauts success on future missions in service of their country, and contributing towards progress and development in the space sciences.
“During my tour from the airport to the Presidential Palace, I was briefed on the UAE’s dynamic development progress,” said the Russian President.
He added that the bilateral relations between the two countries continue to grow in a friendly and constructive context, adding that Declaration of Strategic Partnership signals the strong trade and economic ties the UAE and Russia share. Putin went on to note that the two countries have partnered across many investment areas, particularly in the energy and peaceful nuclear energy sectors.
He went on to congratulate the UAE on its successful space mission that saw the first Emirati astronaut reach the International Space Station.
Putin went on to praise Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s continued support to bolster relations between the two countries. He noted that Russian tourists visiting the UAE have increased by 23 percent, adding some US$1.3 billion to the tourism economy.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Executive Committee and Member of the Executive Council; H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court; Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and ADNOC Group CEO, Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Saeed Matar Al Neyadi, Customs Commissioner and Federal Customs Authority Chairman, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority, EAA, and Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Under-Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court, were present during the meeting.
The Russian side was attended by Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade; Ramzan Kadyrov, Head of the Chechen Republic, along with several other officials.

Host of agreements signed
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, and President Vladimir Putin of Russia have witnessed the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding between the UAE and Russia.
The agreements span various vital sectors, including trade and investment, and sustainability and environment, intending to develop strategic partnerships between the UAE and Russia further.
Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry, and his Russian counterpart, Alexander Novak, Minister of Energy, signed an agreement.
Mohammed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec), and Alexey Likhachev, Director-General of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, also signed an MoU.
The ceremony also included the signing of an agreement between Adnoc and Russia’s Gazprom Neft, signed by signed by Dr Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and ADNOC Group CEO, and Vladislav Baryshnikov, Deputy CEO for International Business Development at Gazprom Neft. The signing of a future cooperation agreement with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Lukoil also took place. Adnoc also awarded Lukoil a stake in the Ghasha Sour Gas Concession. The agreements were signed by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, and Kirill Dmitriyev, RDIF CEO and Lukoil Chairman.
A MoU was also signed between Mubadala and the RDIF to explore investment cooperation in the artificial intelligence sector. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority, and Kirill Dmitriyev, RDIF CEO, signed the MoU.