Dubai, June 24 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during his visit to the UAE, engaged with his counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to strengthen the multi-faceted India-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership. The discussions included exploring new areas with untapped potential for collaboration, as highlighted in an official statement on Monday.
Jaishankar, who visited the UAE on Sunday, also addressed regional and global issues with Al Nahyan. His itinerary included a visit to the iconic BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, where he participated in the 10th International Yoga Day celebrations. Following these engagements, both ministers reviewed the diverse aspects of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, emphasizing substantial progress across commercial and economic collaboration, fintech, education, culture, and people-to-people connections.
Expressing satisfaction with the ongoing bilateral cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs noted discussions on expanding collaboration into new domains. Post-meeting, Jaishankar expressed his appreciation for the productive discussions and insights shared by UAE FM @ABZayed during their meeting in Abu Dhabi.
During his visit to the BAPS Hindu Mandir, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year, Jaishankar underscored its significance as a symbol of friendship between India and the UAE, having attracted one million visitors within a short span. He interacted with monks from BAPS, the organization behind the temple constructed on land donated by the UAE.
Further marking the visit, Jaishankar inaugurated and participated in the 10th International Day of Yoga celebrations at the Louvre, Abu Dhabi museum premises, with participants from diverse backgrounds. The Ministry highlighted the visit’s importance in reinforcing high-level engagements between India and the UAE, citing milestones achieved in bilateral relations, such as local currency trade settlement agreements, fintech collaborations, and educational initiatives like the IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi.
Ahead of the day-long visit to Abu Dhabi, the Ministry of External Affairs affirmed that the discussions aimed to review the comprehensive strategic partnership, regional dynamics, and global developments. The visit underscores India’s commitment to its relations with the UAE, featuring engagements on wide-ranging partnership issues between the External Affairs Minister and his UAE counterpart.
The UAE hosts a vibrant Indian community of over 3.5 million, the largest expatriate group in the country. Both nations signed a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in February 2022, aimed at enhancing economic engagement and cooperation.
