The UAE Ambassador to Russia, Mohammed Ahmed Al-Jaber, announced that the 10th meeting of the Russian-Emirati Joint Economic Committee will take place this year.
In a statement to Sputnik, the Emirati ambassador said, "Since 1994, a joint government committee has been formed for cooperation between the UAE and the Russian Federation in the commercial, economic, and technical fields. The joint committee is scheduled to hold its 10th meeting this year, and there is significant importance in developing UAE-Russia cooperation in several sectors, notably those related to food security, industry, information technology, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and innovation development."
He added, "Promoting cooperation in the Islamic economy sector is a promising area, given the UAE's prominence in this field, as the UAE ranks second in the overall classification of the Islamic Economy Index 2018/2019. The country is keen to enhance cooperation and partnership with Russia at both government and private levels to develop the halal industry and empower this vital sector, especially after both sides took significant steps in this direction, including a memorandum of understanding between the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Center, the ‘Russia - Islamic World’ Strategic Vision Group, and the Investment Development Agency in Tatarstan."
Al-Jaber praised the development of relations between Russia and the UAE, noting, "Since 2007, the relationship between the UAE and the Russian Federation has rapidly developed, and the UAE has become the first Arab nation to develop extensive cooperation with Russia in areas of mutual investment, trade exchange, and joint manufacturing of several technologies, including military technologies. In 2013, a joint investment fund was announced between Mubadala and the Russian Direct Investment Fund, establishing a joint investment platform valued at $7 billion. Many investment projects have been completed so far, with a total value exceeding $2 billion across various sectors of the Russian economy."
He continued, "The UAE and the Russian Federation maintain friendly relations based on mutual understanding and respect, and a shared desire to develop these relationships." He indicated that "there is a convergence in positions and views between the UAE and the Russian Federation on many global issues, based on the foundations of dialogue and understanding between nations, respecting international treaties and the United Nations Charter, good neighborliness, resolving disputes peacefully, and not intervening in the internal affairs of countries, in addition to working to enhance international stability, peace, and security, and combating extremism and terrorism in all its forms."
Al-Jaber affirmed "UAE-Russian cooperation in combating terrorism and extremism, which many countries around the world are suffering from, not just those in the Middle East." Regarding the "Sputnik V" vaccine, Ambassador Jaber stated, "On January 21 of this year, the Ministry of Health and Prevention announced the registration of the Russian 'Sputnik V' vaccine for use in treating the COVID-19 virus, as part of the country's comprehensive and integrated efforts to ensure increased levels of protection against the pandemic. This decision follows studies showing the vaccine's effectiveness and safety for use."
He added, "The UAE hosted the third phase of clinical trials for the vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation." Furthermore, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that trade between Russia and the UAE increased by 60 percent in the first nine months of 2020.
