Emirati-Italian Friendship Association holds first meeting in Abu Dhabi

The Emirati-Italian Friendship Association held its first meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Abu Dhabi.

Fahad Obaid Al Taffaq, Director of Economic Affairs and International Cooperation at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and members of the Executive Committee of the friendship association of both countries attended the meeting.

The UAE side was presided over by Homaid Al Shimmari, Chief Executive Officer, Aerospace & Engineering Services at Mubadala Development Company, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of Emirati-Italian Friendship Association and the Italian side was presided over by Francesco Rutelli, Italian Minister of Culture and Former Mayor of Rome.

During the meeting, they discussed frameworks of bilateral relations between the UAE and the Republic of Italy and means of boosting them especially in the economic, cultural, technological, industrial, educational, health and tourism development areas.

The meeting also touched on enhancing cooperation in specific strategic sectors, as well as discussing the possibilities to find solutions to some of the outstanding issues in these sectors, thus contributing to facilitate and push the pace of cooperation between the two countries to a wider horizons.

Mr. Al Shimmari highlighted that the UAE and the Republic of Italy share a very outstanding relationship that is characterised by respect and mutual appreciation thanks to the wise directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The two sides discussed the important role that can be played by the friendship association to change the stereotype about Islam and Muslims in Italy and Europe in general, and the dissemination of the true image of Islam, with its values of justice, equality and tolerance. In this regard, the UAE delegation highlighted the leading role played by the UAE in this area through the launch of the Sawab Centre and the Hedaya International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism.

The Italian delegation to the meeting consisted of; Senator Nicola Latorre, Chairman of the Senate's Defence Committee,Senator Nicola Latorre, Chairman of the Italian Senate's Defence Committee, Luca Bader, Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Nicola Martinelli, Secretary-General of the Emirati-Italian Friendship Association.

The association's agenda includes a visit to Mubadala Company in Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, DP World, Tourism Development & Investment Company, the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, and the Sawab Centre.