UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and French President His Excellency Emmanuel Macron discussed the strategic ties between the two countries and ways to broaden their scope, particularly in the fields of the economy, investment, energy, advanced technology and artificial intelligence The meeting took place Monday during the French President’s official visit to the UAE.
The two sides also reviewed regional and international issues, foremost among them developments in the Middle East and ongoing efforts to address their impact on maritime security and global energy supplies. They underscored their shared determination to strengthen coordination with the aim of reinforcing security, stability, and peace in the region for the benefit of all its countries and peoples.
On Tuesday, both Presidents witnessed the exchange of the Strategic Defence Partnership Framework between the UAE and the French Republic, UAE national news agency WAM reported.
The framework was exchanged by His Excellency Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, and on the French side by Her Excellency Catherine Vautrin, Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs.
His Highness and His Excellency Macron also witnessed the exchange of an agreement on implementing arrangements regarding the defence industry.
This was exchanged by His Excellency Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, and on the French side by Patrick Pailloux, Delegate-General for Armaments.
The exchange ceremony was attended by a number of Sheikhs, Ministers, and senior officials.
Both Presidents also visited Tawazun Industrial Park in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The tour included EDGE Group’s entities ADASI, EPI, HALCON and POWERTECH. During the tour, they viewed products from a number of advanced manufacturing facilities within the park and were briefed on the infrastructure and integrated industrial ecosystem it provides to support the defence, aerospace, and other strategic industries.
They were also briefed on Tawazun Industrial Park’s cooperation with local, regional, and international companies and its role in enabling them to develop and expand their operations.
Lastly, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Emmanuel Macron, attended the UAE-France Business Dialogue at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Khaled and Emmanuel Macron also witnessed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding and contracts between Emirati and French institutions and companies, covering energy, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology.
Meanwhile, the Royal Court of Bahrain announced that His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa will receive His Excellency Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.
During the visit, the French President will hold talks with His Majesty the King, focusing on the strong bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as the latest regional and international developments.
On Sunday, King Hamad received Éric Giraud-Telme, Ambassador of the French Republic to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Both sides reviewed aspects of cooperation and joint action between the two countries, as well as ways to develop them.
In recognition of Ambassador Giraud-Telme’s efforts to support relations between the two countries, His Majesty the King awarded him the Order of Bahrain (First Class). (WAM; Bahrain’s Royal Court; BNA; Photo © WAM)
