ABU DHABI, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, held a meeting in Abu Dhabi today.
They commended the strong bilateral ties between the two countries, as well as the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) agreed upon in November 2020, which gave new impetus to their bilateral relations.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed conveyed his congratulations to the Prime Minister and the People of Greece on the 201st anniversary of the Greek Independence Day celebrated on 25th March.
Mitsotakis congratulated Sheikh Mohamed and the people of the UAE on the successful hosting of Expo 2020 Dubai and on being selected to host the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) to the UNFCCC in 2023.
The Prime Minister also commended the success of Expo 2020 Dubai in providing a platform that promoted global dialogue and innovation and established the UAE as a partner for world nations to cooperate and tackle global challenges. The Greek pavilion, through its theme “Greece Tomorrow, Today”, has provided visitors with an opportunity to learn about the main pillars of the Hellenic Republic’s economy and society and how they passed from ancient times to the Greece of tomorrow. Through their participation at the Dubai expo, Greece demonstrated its achievements in innovation, technology, and digital transformation that has made it a secure investment destination.
The two leaders expressed commitment to working closely together to accelerate global efforts to address climate change and environmental protection and create a more sustainable economic future.
They reaffirmed their determination to further deepen and widen the relationship between the UAE and Greece in the broadest range of fields and join efforts to address common global and regional challenges and explore new opportunities to further peace and prosperity.
Foreign Policy, Regional Issues, Peace, and Stability
The two countries reiterated their unwavering commitment to deepening their strategic partnership on foreign policy, regional, security, and defence fronts.
The Greek prime minister congratulated the UAE on its current term as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council for 2022-23. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed reiterated the UAE’s support for Greece’s candidature for a non-permanent seat at the U.N. Security Council for 2025-26. The UAE and Greece reaffirmed their dedication to working together to promote international peace and security in the world. The two leaders discussed the long-term strategic implications of the global recovery from COVID-19.
The leaders expressed their commitment to supporting efforts made to promote peace and stability at both the regional and international levels, on the basis of international law, including the Law of the Sea. They also affirmed that political processes and dialogue, based on the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, remain the guiding compass aimed at achieving sustainable solutions for all conflicts and disputes and emphasised the importance of peaceful resolution of differences between countries. They also noted that maintaining stability and prosperity remains a priority to achieve regional peace and security. In this regard, they concurred that undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of either of the two countries is destabilising regional peace and security.
The Greek prime minister reiterated strong condemnation of the terrorist attacks against the UAE and reaffirmed solidarity and full support for the UAE in the face of these attacks.
Both leaders expressed confidence in their ability to address future challenges based on the strength of the existing broad and solid partnership that contributes to increasing mutual security, stability, economic development, and emblematic cooperation.
Economy, Investment, Industry, and Energy
The UAE and the Hellenic Republic share an important trade and investment relationship, with total trade of US$560 million in 2021, reflecting a 67.4% growth compared to the year 2020, promoting innovation, jobs, and economic development in the UAE and Greece. The Leaders set out objectives to boost economic exchanges between the two countries and discussed new collaboration opportunities, including strategic joint investments in energy, industry, and technology, with a particular focus on environmentally friendly technologies, renewable energy, hydrogen, and industrial decarbonisation.
The Leaders witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Economic and Technical Cooperation to further enhance economic cooperation between the two countries further.
The UAE and the Hellenic Republic agreed to establish a €4 billion Investment Initiative to facilitate investments in the Greek economy across a wide range of sectors, including infrastructure, renewable and new forms of energy, healthcare and pharma, food and agriculture, and logistics. For this purpose, an MoU was signed between ADQ of UAE and Hellenic Development Bank and Hellenic Development Bank of Investments.
In addition, Mubadala Investment Company and the Hellenic Development Bank of Investments (HDBI) agreed to extend their partnership in the €400 million co-investment platform established in 2018.
The Leaders witnessed the signing of an MoU in the field of industry and advanced technologies and an MoU in the field of standardisation and conformity.
Under their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) framework, the UAE and Greece have been actively working on expanding bilateral ties in the energy sector.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Motor Oil signed a Strategic Framework Agreement to explore opportunities to supply LNG cargoes to Greece, including Dioriga Gas’s upcoming LNG floating storage and re-gasification unit (FSRU), and explore other cooperation opportunities at Dioriga Gas terminal.
The bilateral collaboration in the renewable field will be broadened and deepened through three new agreements signed by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), an MoU with the Greek Government on eco-island renewables deployment and energy efficiency solutions; an MoU to establish a Joint Venture (J.V.) with local partner KYOTO S.A. to develop onshore renewables energy projects in Greece; and an MoU with Motor Oil for developing offshore wind generation and other renewable power generation projects in Greece.
Climate Action
Recognising that strong, decisive climate action can be an engine for economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development, the Leaders emphasised increasing climate action cooperation to facilitate the energy transition and implementation of the Paris Agreement. The Leaders agreed to work closely in the context of COP and to support each other’s clean energy missions.
The Leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation to accelerate climate action and environmental protection and welcomed the signing of a collaboration MoU on Climate Action.
Health
The Leaders emphasised the success of both countries in combatting the coronavirus pandemic and underlined commitment to boosting cooperation and exchanging expertise between the two countries in the health sector, and witnessed the signing of an MoU to coordinate efforts and deepen collaboration in the medical field as a catalyst to building more resilient societies.
Defence and Security
The two countries recognise the importance of bilateral defence cooperation between the two sides, which is expressed in agreements that facilitate cooperation processes. The two sides expressed their desire to maintain and enhance their defence relations, especially in the areas of technical training and joint exercises. The two leaders welcomed the signing of an MoU on Security Cooperation, Fighting Organised Crime and Counter-Terrorism.
Source: Emirates News Agency