UAE FM to visit India next week; will hold talks with Swaraj

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan will be on a week-long visit to India from Sunday during which he will hold talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on strengthening of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

During the visit from June 24-30, Abdullah will also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi besides holding official talks with Swaraj.

Apart from the official programme in New Delhi, his visit includes engagements in other states, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

He would also be meeting other Union ministers and governors and chief ministers of the states being visited by him, it said.

However, the statement did not mention which states Abdullah would be visiting during his India trip.

The present visit would provide the two sides with the opportunity to further strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the MEA said.

Modi had visited the UAE in August 2015 when the two countries had decided to elevate their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The prime minister had made another successful visit to the UAE in February, the MEA said.

Abdullah will be accompanied by a senior-level delegation on the visit. He had visited India earlier in September, 2015, and had also accompanied the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi during his visits.

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had visited India in February 2016 and later in January 2017 as the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations.

India and the UAE enjoy warm, close and multi-faceted relations underpinned by historic, cultural, religious and economic linkages which stand elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the MEA said.

The UAE is India's third-largest trade partner and sixth-largest supplier of its energy needs.

Several significant developments have taken place in the recent past, including awarding of a 10 per cent stake to Indian consortium in Lower Zakum offshore field, participation of the UAE in India's strategic petroleum reserves, investments by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in infrastructure, and increasing engagements in energy, food security, logistics and space, the MEA said.

A 3.3 million-strong Indian community, largest in the Gulf region, has made the UAE its second home and is contributing to its development, the statement said.