By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON –The 16th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting and the 5th round of the India-UAE Strategic Dialogue was held on 15 December in Abu Dhabi, according to MEA statement issued on Tuesday.
India and the United Arab Emirates have expressed their resolve to implement the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and also work for the Global South.
The meetings were co-chaired by the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his UAE counter part Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Prime Minister.
The IMEC is a planned economic corridor that aims to bolster economic development by fostering connectivity and economic integration between Asia, the Persian Gulf and Europe.
The corridor is a proposed route from India to Europe through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Italy.
The JCM and the Strategic Dialogue provided an opportunity to the two countries to undertake a comprehensive review of the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including trade, investment, energy, connectivity, defence, security, development partnership, technology, health, culture, education and people-to-people ties.
Two leaders expressed satisfaction at the depth and breadth of the India–UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
They agreed on new initiatives and action-oriented agenda for the coming year to further deepen cooperation across priority sectors.
They exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the situation in West Asia.
Both leaders reaffirmed the shared interest in protecting and promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity.
Jaishankar also called on other top leaders of the UAE and discussed bilateral ties.
The high-level engagements reaffirmed the shared vision of the leadership of both countries to deepen strategic trust, expand economic collaboration, explore new areas for bilateral and trilateral cooperation, the Ministry of external Affairs said on Tuesday.
Jaishankar also participated in the Sir Bani Yas Forum from 13-14 December, where he exchanged views with international leaders and experts on key geopolitical, security and technological challenges facing the world, MEA added.
