H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed receives Belgian Deputy Premier.

Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan received here Didier Reynders, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs

Sheikh Abdullah welcomed the Belgian official's visit to the UAE which comes as part of the efforts to enhance relations between the two friendly countries. He praised the growing cooperation and strong partnership between the UAE and Belgium, particularly in economic fields.

Reynders lauded the progress made by the UAE since the federation was created 43 years ago.

Sheikh Abdullah and Reynders discussed current regional and international developments and issues of mutual interest and those of concern to the security of the Middle East and Europe.

Present were Khalid Ghanim Al Ghaith, Assistant Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs and Sulaiman Hamed Salem Al Mazrouei, UAE Ambassador to Belgium.

UAE and Belgium established diplomatic relations in 1973 when the latter opened an embassy office in the UAE and appointed the first ambassador in 1975. The UAE opened its embassy in Brussels in 1976.

Belgium features among the UAE's top 11 trade partners and the 3rd largest market for re-exports from the UAE.

During his visit to Belgium in 2013, Sheikh Abdullah and Didier Reynders signed a Memorandum Of Understanding on Political Consultations, expressing the two countries' wish to strengthen the existing bilateral relations and cooperation through establishing mechanism on political consultations. It also recognizes the importance of coordinating the bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common interest between the two states.

They also signed a Memorandum Of Understanding on Creating a Joint Committee for Cooperation between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium. The MoU expressed their belief in strengthening the existing ties between the two countries, and their desire to build on and promote the bilateral relations in all fields seeking to meet the common goals of the two friendly countries.

Currently, a Belgian delegation comprising over 400 businessmen and women, led by HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium, representative of His Majesty the King Philippe of Belgium, began on Tuesday a three-day trade mission to the UAE.

Members of the delegation met with senior officials from the UAE government, Mubadala Development Company, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, ADCC, Abu Dhabi and Water and Electricity Authority, ADWEA, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, DP World, Dubai World Central, and Dubai Expo 2020.

The delegation also participated in working sessions and seminars with public and private sector stakeholders from across the UAE during the course of their visit.

The visiting delegation will hold a series of meetings aimed at strengthening the UAE-Belgium bilateral relationship, expanding economic ties and cooperation, and promoting opportunities for further cooperation in the finance, healthcare, energy, tourism, pharmaceutical, logistics, construction and sustainable technologies sectors.