Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan concluded a "short but extremely substantive" official visit to New Delhi on Monday, during which India and the United Arab Emirates signed a series of key agreements spanning defence, energy, space, technology and investment, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said.
Briefing the media, Misri said the UAE leader was personally received at the airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it a special gesture reflecting the "extremely warm and close relationship" between the two leaders.
Briefing the media here, Misri said, "The President of the UAE has just concluded an official visit to New Delhi. This has been a short, but extremely substantive visit. He was received at the airport personally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is a special gesture that reflects the extremely warm and close relationship that the two leaders share."
The two leaders travelled together from the airport to the Prime Minister's residence, where talks were held first in a restricted format and later at the delegation level. "A number of documents were also exchanged in the presence of the leaders," Misri added.
Misri said the significance of the visit was reflected in the high-level UAE delegation. It comprised members of the royal families of both Abu Dhabi as well as the way Dubai, and several senior ministers and officials," he said.
Among the major outcomes, the two sides signed a letter of intent to work towards a framework agreement on a Strategic Defence Partnership. Another letter of intent was signed for joint development of space infrastructure, including two launch facilities and satellite fabrication.
A long-term agreement was also concluded for the supply of 0.5 million metric tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas to India, making the UAE India's second-largest LNG supplier.
The two sides signed a letter of intent for UAE participation in the development of a Special Investment Region in Dholera, Gujarat, and a memorandum of understanding on food safety and technical requirements in the food sector to benefit Indian farmers and enhance food security in the UAE.
India and the UAE also agreed to explore cooperation in civil nuclear energy and identified artificial intelligence as a priority area. The UAE will invest in data centre capacity in India, and both countries will partner in setting up a supercomputing cluster.
Misri said the visit took place amid a volatile regional environment in West Asia.
Earlier, PM Modi went to the airport to welcome Sheikh Mohamed, describing the visit as a reflection of the importance the UAE attaches to ties with India.
The visit lasted less than three hours and marked Sheikh Mohamed's third official visit to India since assuming office as UAE President and his fifth visit in the past decade.
