Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Makei paid visit to the UAE

On May 6 – 7 2018 Abu Dhabi hosted the fourth meeting of the Joint Committee on Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the United Arab Emirates that was held under the co-chairmanship of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Anwar Mohammed Gargash.

During the meeting of the Joint Committee the parties discussed in details the wide range of issues of Belarusian-Emirati cooperation in trade and economic, investment and banking spheres, in the field of agriculture, advanced technologies, science, education, culture, sports, tourism and health as well as collaboration between the law enforcement structures and the chambers of commerce and industry of Belarus and the UAE.

The fourth meeting of the Joint Committee has become both the most numerous in terms of the number of participants, and the most diverse regarding the topics that were discussed. The work of the Joint Committee was attended by more than 30 members of the Belarusian delegation representing various ministries, authorities and enterprises, and about 80 representatives of the Emirati side.

As a result of the meeting a number of documents were signed to expand the legal framework for bilateral cooperation: Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the United Arab Emirates on Co-operation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters, Memorandum of Understanding between the Supreme Council for National Security of the United Arab Emirates Represented by the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority and the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus Concerning the Cooperation in the field of Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management, Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Health and Prevention of the United Arab Emirates, Executive Program of Realization of the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Mass Media on cooperation in the field of mass media for the years 2018-2022, Memorandum of Understanding between the IRUE National Center for Marketing and Price Study and Dubai Exports.

During the meeting of the Joint Committee the parties reached an agreement regarding the forms of veterinary certificates necessary for the supply of milk and dairy products, meat products, honey, as well as ready-made processed products in a wide range to the Emirati market.

The agreement on the visit of the specialists of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Protection, the Emirates Standardization and Metrology Agency to certify Belarusian enterprises for obtaining permits for the supply of beef and poultry meat to the Republic of Belarus.

Direct contacts have been established between educational institutions and scientific organizations of the two countries and agreements have been reached on cooperation in the field of information technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, vocational education and training.

Negotiations were held to prepare the Days of Belarusian Culture in the UAE in September-October 2018 and to increase the participation of creative teams of the two countries in the events held. Issues of development of cooperation in the field of sports and tourism, as well as between law enforcement agencies, were discussed in each of these areas for specific events prior to the end of 2018.

The Emirate side showed considerable interest in establishing practical cooperation in the field of health care. On the fields of the Joint Committee, documents have been signed between the Ministry of Health and Prevention of Diseases of the United Arab Emirates and the Children's Surgery Center of the Republic of Belarus, the Cardiology Research Center, the Neurosurgery and Neurosurgery Center, the 9th City Clinical Hospital, according to which Belarusian specialists will be able to conduct master classes, provide services for treatment, carry out operations.

In parallel with the meeting of the joint committee, working visits were made to the UAE by the Minister for Emergency Situations Vladimir Vashchenko and the Chairman of the State Customs Committee Yuriy Senko. The heads of the Belarusian departments held talks with their emirate counterparts, during which concrete ways to implement the documents on cooperation signed during the meeting were outlined.

In addition to participating in the work of the Joint Committee, Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei held bilateral meetings and negotiations with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Anvar Gargash, the Federal Minister of the UAE and Sheikh Nakhayan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan, the director of DP World corporation Sultan bin Sulaim, the executive director of FEZ Jebel Ali Mohammed al-Muallem, as well as with representatives of the emirate business community.