President, Asif Ali Zardari and United Arab Emirates Prime Minister, Shaikh Muhammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum met here on Monday and reaffirmed the resolve to further consolidate the deep-rooted brotherly relationship in the interest of people of both the countries.
Sheikh Mohammad who is also the vice president of UAE and ruler of Dubai, expressed his warm greetings to President Zardari and hoped that his frequent interaction with the UAE's leadership will go a long way in boosting bilateral ties and promoting greater understanding on regional and international issues. President Zardari, during the meeting, thanked UAE government for their generous assistance during the recent devastating floods. He said, his country is thankful to the rulers and people of Emirates on their generous assistance for early rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons IDPs of Swat and Malakand.
He underlined the need that Abu Dhabi Fund provide the pledged $270 million under the Citizen Damage Compensation Programme. He called for further enhancing of bilateral relations and extending mutual co-operation in the realm of trade, education, labour and manpower. Zardari congratulated UAE's leader on holding World Future Energy Summit and hoped that it will help in providing sustainable solutions for energy security and to meet challenges of climate change.
The two sides agreed on the need to expand, strengthen and take their bilateral co-operation in diverse fields to the level reflective of the warm, deep-rooted and historic ties that date back to the formation of UAE in 1971. President Zardari and UAE vice president also discussed the peace and security situation in the region. They stressed the need for joint efforts to improve this situation, which was imperative for progress and development in the region as well as in the world. President Zardari pointed the need for increased co-ordination in this regard.
The two leaders recalled the historic, brotherly and warm relations between Pakistan and UAE at the people to people and leadership level, which were founded by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and were nurtured by successive governments, particularly by the government of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.