UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan hosted a working dinner in Abu Dhabi with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The meeting addressed the serious developments in the Middle East and international efforts to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and enhance humanitarian responses to the needs of civilians in the Gaza Strip, according to the UAE's WAM news agency.
Sheikh Abdullah emphasized the importance of intensifying efforts at both regional and international levels to establish a ceasefire and ensure the security and safety of all civilians, noting that rising tension, extremism, and violence in the region threaten international peace and security. He stressed the necessity of closely working to provide sufficient humanitarian support to civilians in Gaza sustainably and without barriers, while intensifying efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.
In conjunction with this, Sheikh Abdullah and Hakan Fidan discussed the friendship and strategic partnership between their countries, highlighting the diverse developmental opportunities available for both nations and their peoples. They reviewed bilateral cooperation in various fields, including economic, commercial, and investment areas.
Sheikh Abdullah commended the significant growth in non-oil bilateral trade between the two countries, which increased by 103.7% in 2023. He noted that Turkey's share in the UAE's total foreign trade rose to 5.1%, making it the fastest-growing among the top 10 trading partners.
He added that this substantial growth in non-oil trade is a result of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed between the two countries on March 3, 2023, which came into effect on September 1 of the same year. He stressed the importance of continuing joint efforts to enhance cooperative and partnership relations across all fields.
Sheikh Abdullah confirmed that the UAE and the Republic of Turkey are linked by strong and growing relations and look forward to establishing advanced and prosperous cooperation paths that support their endeavors to achieve comprehensive and sustainable economic growth.
