UAE keen to bolster ties with friendly states: President

"We are keen to bolster relations with friendly countries by opening new avenues of cooperation on various areas. This approach is in line with our evenhanded policies, particularly in economic and commercial areas," said the President in remarks during a meeting here yesterday with Moritz Leuenberger, President of the Swiss Confederation.

President Leuenberger was received at Al Bateen Palace by Shaikh Khalifa in the presence of Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, and General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

During the meeting, Shaikh Khalifa hailed the strong UAE-Swiss relations and expressed his hope that these ties would continue to develop to the best mutual interests of the people of the two countries.

The meeting further touched on ways of boosting bilateral relations, particularly in trade, investments and economic spheres.

President Leuenberger lauded the astounding achievements by the UAE in various areas. He noted that the forthright vision of the UAE leadership gave way to judicious policies that formed the bedrock of the country's development in various spheres of socio-economic development.

The wise development policies pursued by the UAE, said President Leuenberger, won the country an international acclaim.

"Switzerland attaches a great importance to relations with the UAE, which is an economic power. My visit to the UAE and meeting President Shaikh Khalifa is a measure of our good relations and underscores the mutual interest of both countries to further open new avenues of joint cooperation".

The meeting was attended by Lt.-Gen. Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, and Peter Vogler, Swiss ambassador.