The Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council spoke at a plenary session of the Federation Council.
Speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates Saqr Ghobash addressed the 545th plenary session of Russia’s Federation Council.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko noted that the visit of the Emirati parliamentary delegation had special significance. The UAE was selected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2022–2023. “This Arab country makes a sizable contribution to strengthening regional stability, actively promoting a constructive dialogue and a unifying constructive agenda at multilateral parliamentary platforms, including as part of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and regional parliamentary organisations.”
The Speaker noted the UAE’s consistent efforts to expand inter-parliamentary cooperation as the essential component of relations between the two countries.
Valentina Matvienko stressed that Saqr Ghobash had long supported developing friendly relations with Russia.
The Speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE reminded those attending the session about the historically friendly links between the two countries and nations. “The first official delegation from Moscow arrived in the UAE one month after the state was founded in December 1971. It was then that we agreed to establish diplomatic relations,” he said.
Saqr Ghobash praised the active and trust-based dialogue between the leaders of the two states, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President of Russia Vladimir Putin. “Their communication confirms the depth of our bilateral ties, the strategic nature of this partnership and the consensus on building cooperation on key issues at the national and international levels.”
He added that thanks to their strategic partnership, Russia-UAE relations had developed in various fields. The UAE was determined to continue the dialogue on a wide range of issues of common interest.
The Speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE emphasised the importance of the economic cooperation with Russia that is developing in modern technology, digitalisation, peaceful space, healthcare, agriculture and other new fields.
Saqr Ghobash stressed that Russia and the UAE are important actors in regional affairs. “The Arab Emirates has the second largest economy among Arab countries and is one of economic leaders on a global scale. Our country is confidently moving towards strengthening its role in the system of global economic links, including the AI industry, finance, logistics, tourism, renewable energy and peaceful space development.”
According to Saqr Ghobash, thanks to the intensifying cooperation between the parliaments of Russia and the UAE and inter-parliamentary coordination, Russia-UAE cooperation demonstrates consistent growth.
The Speaker of the Federal National Council of the UAE stressed the importance of cooperation in countering climate change and announced that in November 2023, the UAE would host the 28th annual conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. “It is expected that at this forum, the global community will consolidate the results of its efforts with regard to countering climate change and reducing its negative impact on people’s lives.”