#UAENationalDay45: WAM Report - Diplomatic visits

On the occasion of the 45th National Day celebrations of the United Arab Emirates, the Emirates News Agency, WAM, has issued a series of reports regarding the achievements of the state over the past year. In part four, we detail the diplomatic visits and exchanges which took place during 2016.

The UAE Government in 2016 continued in its efforts to bolster its diplomatic relations with other friendly nations around the world. This year the state attracted high-profile visits from individuals and delegations from nations including the GCC, Europe, America and Asia The UAE leadership has also made efforts to boost its relations by visiting a number of countries as part of its diplomatic and foreign policy missions abroad.

Speaking on the importance of mutual visits, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Force, said that under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE seeks to further develop ties with friendly countries.

In November 2016: His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed made a working visit to Egypt and was welcomed by President el-Sisi. The two leaders exchanged cordial talks.

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, and discussed ways to promote relations between the UAE and Armenia, and regional and international issues of common concern.

HRH Charles, the Prince of Wales, and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrived in the UAE for a three-day private visit. H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, received Prince Charles and his accompanying delegation at the airport.

Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, visited the UAE to inaugurate the European Union Delegation to the UAE.

Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, was in the UAE for the first time in his capacity as the High Commissioner of the UN Refugees Agency, where he commended the humanitarian aid and logistics help given by the United Arab Emirates saying that it is vitally important to the UN refugee agency.

In October 2016: His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, received President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus. Sheikh Mohamed applauded the UAE's progressive relations with Belarus, thanks to the keen interest of the leaderships of the two countries. The two sides exchanged views on a number of topics of mutual interest, as well as current regional and international developments.

Also, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed arrived in Riyadh on a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The visit reviewed relations and outstanding efforts of the two countries to strengthen their strategic co-operation on overall issues affecting the security and stability of the region, with emphasis on ensuring their common interests and enhancing the efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States, and safeguarding Arab rights.

President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, visited the UAE and met with top officials including H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Ankara, Turkey, where he stressed the importance of coordinating with Turkey to resolve the crises in the region, especially in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya.

In Paris, FNC Speaker Amal Al Qubaisi met French Minister of State for European Affairs, Harlem Desir, during an official visit to France.

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea arrived in the UAE on an official visit, where he met with a number of the country's top officials.

In Rome, and in her capacity as UN Messenger of Peace and Chairperson of International Humanitarian City (IHC), H.R.H. Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, had an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Rome, at the Vatican, as part of a one-day official visit to Rome.

In Rome, Paolo Gentiloni, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, received Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi and discussed cooperation and the strategic partnership between the UAE and the Republic of Italy.

In September 2016: His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Ajit Doval, Indian National Security Advisor. Discussions during the visit touched on means of deepening bilateral relations and examined a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Rome to begin an official visit to the Vatican City. The visit touched on bilateral ties between the UAE and the Vatican and ways of developing them, as well as reviewing joint cooperation efforts in promoting tolerance, dialogue and coexistence.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and a number of other officials at the Vatican.

In July 2016: H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Doha and was received by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

In June 2016: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan. Talks during the visit covered ties of cooperation between the UAE and Afghanistan as well as UAE's support of the reconstruction efforts in several areas of Afghanistan.

Alexander Govorunov, Vice-Governor of the Russian city of Saint Petersburg, received Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, who was on a visit to Russia at the invitation of the Chairperson of the Russian Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko.

Govorunov and Al Qubaisi discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance co-operation between the UAE and Russia in investment, economic, tourism and cultural fields.

In May 2016: H.H. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum arrived in Jeddah, leading the UAE delegation to the 16th Consultative Meeting of Their Majesties and Highnesses Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania made an official visit to the UAE and met His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, where they discussed ways of promoting cooperation as well as coordination about the crises in Libya, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and acts of violence and terrorism threatening security and stability in the countries of the region.

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed made a friendly visit to Egypt and was welcomed at Cairo International Airport by Egyptian President el-Sisi.

Chadian President, Idriss Deby, arrived in the UAE on a working visit.

In April 2016: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received King Mohammed VI of Morocco, where they held talks on ways to enhance fraternal relations and bilateral cooperation, as well as current regional and international developments.

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed paid an official visit to Egypt during which he met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and discussed bilateral relations, regional and international issues.

In Brussels, Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, received visiting Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels.

In Vienna, Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi held talks with a number of Austrian officials, including the President of Austria, Heinz Fischer.

In Abu Dhabi, the President of Tajikistan, Emomalii Rahmon, made an official visit to the UAE, where he held talks with H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Riyadh to participate in a summit between GCC leaders and Morocco, with the attendance of King Mohammed VI of Morocco, GCC leaders, and President Barack Obama of the United States.

In Abu Dhabi, the Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defence, arrived in the country on a fraternal visit to the UAE.

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, Qatari Foreign Minister, and discussed with him ways to strengthen fraternal ties between the two countries and the latest regional and international developments.

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received Denis Manturov, Russian Minister of Industry and Trade, and discussed with him ways to strengthen ties of friendship and bilateral co-operation.

In Abu Dhabi, Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, and Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, held a round of official talks on means to boost bilateral relations and the need for international cooperation to counter terrorism and extremism.

In March 2016: H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation, and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, received the former Spanish Queen, Sofia. Ways of bolstering cooperation between the UAE and Spain in women's empowerment were discussed.

The President of Tajikistan, Emomalii Rahmon, made an official visit to the UAE, where he held talks with H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.

US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in the UAE on a two-day official visit, during which he held talks with H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on bilateral relations and ways to enhance them.

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed arrived in Hafar Al-Batin City, eastern Saudi Arabia, to attend a military parade at the conclusion of the Northern Thunder military exercises.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan led the UAE delegation at the 138th session of the GCC Ministerial Council in Riyadh.

H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, arrived in Tunisia leading a UAE delegation participating in the 33rd session of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council.

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Manama on a fraternal visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan arrived in the UAE for a working visit. H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed the King at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi.

In February 2016: H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan began a three-day visit to India where he was welcomed by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, ministers, and top military officials.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Costa Rica and met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Costa Rica, Manuel Gonzalez Sanz, and discussed bilateral relations.

In Panama, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and the Vice President and Foreign Minister of Panama, Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado, discussed the latest regional and international developments.

Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, received Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and her accompanying delegation. Lagarde came to the UAE to participate as a keynote speaker at the Global Women's Forum, held in Dubai.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, visited Khartoum and met with Sudanese President, Omar al Bashir.

In January 2016: Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, arrived in Abu Dhabi for a visit during which he attended the World Future Energy Summit, an event of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.