DUBAI: Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, discussed on Thursday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, longstanding strategic ties between the two countries.
A series of issues were taken up, including current security threats in the Middle East and their impact on the stability of the region.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is assuming a pivotal role in efficiently confronting the challenges besetting the region and is spearheading the efforts aimed at ensuring security, stability and development for the region’s peoples, not to mention its good offices to achieve peace, and safety across different parts of the world,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed told the Saudi crown prince.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is currently on a state visit to the UAE, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed also re-affirmed that their strategic cooperation is based on a “robust foundation of mutual trust and understanding, and common interest,” UAE state agency WAM reported.
“The UAE-Saudi relations have witnessed a quantum leap that has been translated over the recent years into joint actions across all political, economic, cultural and defense fields,” he said, citing the establishment of the Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council in May 2016 as a stepping stone for significantly growing these ties.
The Abu Dhabi crown prince praised UAE-Saudi relations, calling them “an exceptional role model for brotherly ties,” based on “mutual respect and joint determination” to achieving sustainable development, social welfare and economic well-being.
At the end of their talks, the two sides emphasized the partnership between the two countries for joint Arab security and combat extremism and terrorism threatening the stability of the region.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom's ambassador to the United States praised the "historical" bilateral relations between both countries, expressing pride that relations have reached new heights and will only continue to strengthen.
"Our partnership has reached new heights and is only growing stronger, as we are bound together by common destiny," said Prince Khalid bin Salman on his official Twitter account.
#KSA is proud of its strong and historical relationship with our brothers in the #UAE. Our partnership has reached new heights and is only growing stronger, as we are bound together by common destiny
— Khalid bin Salman خالد بن سلمان (@kbsalsaud) November 23, 2018
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman left Saudi Arabia on Thursday to visit a number of Arab countries — starting in the UAE — the Saudi Press Agency reported.
King Salman asked the crown prince to conduct the tour “based on his keenness to deepen the Kingdom's ties regionally and internationally,” the SPA report said.
According to reports, the prince will visit neighboring countries and is expected to visit Tunisia on Tuesday.
His tour comes as US President Donald Trump said Washington would remain a “steadfast partner” of Saudi Arabia, and that the Kingdom is an “important and strategic” ally.
