Putin Meets Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

June 1, 2018 Vladimir Putin received in the Kremlin Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is in Russia on a working visit.

They discussed the further development of trade between Russia and the UAE, economic and investment cooperation, the current energy situation, and pressing international and regional issues.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Your Highness, colleagues, friends, I wholeheartedly welcome you in Moscow.

We had a meeting one year ago. The situation in the region, as well as across the world in general, is rapidly changing. I am glad to be able to have this meeting with you so that we can discuss bilateral cooperation and regional developments.

The United Arab Emirates is Russia’s reliable and long-standing partner in the Middle East. Today, we will be signing a memorandum on strategic cooperation and partnership. I think this would be a good step towards even stronger bilateral ties.

There is positive momentum in the relations between our countries in all areas, including political contacts, economic cooperation and security. Last year, trade increased 31 percent, and added another 70 percent in the first quarter of this year.

With your support, the UAE investment fund is working closely with the Russian Direct Investment Fund in Russia, with already over $2 billion in total investment. We are grateful for your trust. At the same time, I do not think you have any reason to be disappointed, since the return on this investment is way above the market average, reaching 15–17 percent.

We will carry this momentum forward, while also continuing to work in the energy sector, where our combined efforts, including by our friends from Saudi Arabia and all OPEC members in general, are yielding positive results in terms of rebalancing the oil and gas market.

We are especially grateful for your initiatives to promote cooperation in high technology, including your initiatives for the industrial sector in the context of the Innoprom Industrial Trade Fair in Yekaterinburg.

In other words, we have quite a few joint projects, and our interests converge in many areas. strongly hope, I am convinced that today’s visit will help strengthen bilateral relations.

Crown Prince Mohammed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi (retranslated): Thank you, Mr President.

I am glad to be in Moscow today. This is a good opportunity for us to meet with you and discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations. We consider them to be extremely important, and I hope that we will continue to strengthen them with you.

As you correctly pointed out, trade between us is stronger since our previous meeting. I expect that it will continue to grow stronger. I think that our cooperation will expand, thanks in part to the signing of the declaration on strategic partnership. Our relationship is very important, and we always strive to strengthen it with you.

Indeed, as you said, since our last meeting, there have been many developments in the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates seek to cooperate with the entire world community, with all our friends, and are working to ensure a prosperous future for our region. And we also look forward to a detailed discussion of this topic with you, Mr President.

In addition, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan have signed the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Russia and the United Arab Emirates. The signing ceremony followed talks held at the Kremlin on Friday.

The Russian president pointed to the document’s importance at the meeting with the crown prince.

"It will be another solid step aimed at strengthening our bilateral ties," Putin stressed.

Economic cooperation 

Russia and the United Arab Emirates agrees upon coordination of activities on the global aluminum market, according to the Declaration of Strategic Partnership signed between two countries.

The declaration notes that parties will continue coordination in respect of the situation on the global aluminum market, particularly within the framework of a specialized working group on cooperation in the aluminum industry sphere.

Russia and the United Arab Emirates also agreed to develop cooperation in the industry sphere, including such sectors as aviation, machine-building, metals and pipes and pharmaceuticals. 

The parties will provide assistance to interested organizations for development of production and scientific-technology cooperation.

Non-proliferation in the Middle East 

Russia and the United Arab Emirates agreed to coordinate efforts to convert the Middle East into a zone free of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). 

"The parties will actively contribute to the disarmament process on international and regional levels, in particular by strengthening the non-proliferation regime for weapons of mass destruction and related technologies. In this regard, they will coordinate efforts to convert the Middle East into a zone free of weapons of mass destruction," the document states.

Russia and the UAE also agreed to increase cooperation in combating piracy, as well as sharing expertise in the sphere of maritime security. In general, according to the document, the parties aim to bolster cooperation in the sphere of defense and security, in particular by stepping up consultations between both countries’ relevant authorities.

War against terrorism 

Russia and the United Arab Emirates are calling for the creation of a broad international coalition on the war on terror based on respect for the sovereignty of states. 

"The sides are confident that the unprecedented spread of international terrorism and extremism and structures and organizations that threaten the security and sovereignty of states require from the global community resolute joint measures without double standards or selectivity, in accordance with the international laws and the UN Charter. The sides are calling for the creation of a broad international coalition on the fight against terrorism and extremism that would be based on respect for the sovereignty of the states directly affected by terror attacks," the document says.

The sides agreed to develop political cooperation on key bilateral, regional and international issues, including within strategic dialogue between Russia and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum and other multilateral formats. So, they intend to cooperate in the UN, its specialized agencies and other international organizations "to support the efforts of the global community directed at the settlement of international and regional problems and conflicts by solely political means based on broad international dialogue in strict compliance with the international norms and the UN Charter."

Russia and the UAE also supported the consolidation of the role of the UN and the UN Security Council in support for international peace and security and the development of the UN capabilities to prevent and regulate international crises and conflicts.

"Adhering to the principle of the sovereign equality of states, the sides confirm that countries and specialized agencies should play the leading role in countering terrorism and extremism and preventing their spread at both national and international levels," the declaration says.