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29 March 2024

Khalifa holds talks with King Abdullah

Sheikh Khalifa receiveing King Abdullah II of Jordan (Wam)

Published
By Wam

The President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks with King Abdullah II of Jordan at Al Rawdha Palace in Al Ain on Sunday.

Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, was present during the talks.

Sheikh Khalifa said: '' The UAE is looking forward to further its relations of cooperation and partnership with Jordan, particularly in economic and developmental spheres to serve interests of our brotherly countries.''

President Khalifa and King Abdullah underlined during the talks the importance of cooperation between Arab countries to serve their interests and of continuous consultation to advance the interests of their peoples.


The two leaders exchanged views on the latest regional and international events as well as efforts being made by the international community to achieve a comprehensive, just peace that meets the rights of the Palestinian people.

On his part, King Abdullah expressed his delight at visiting the UAE and meeting President Khalifa. He also commended the UAE's views on regional issues, under the sound policy of President Khalifa.

King Abdullah also praised as ''honourable'' the UAE's humanitarian and relief assistance to Syrian refugees in Jordan. He noted the valuable medical services of the Emirates Mobile Hospital at the Zaatari refugee camp.

The Jordanian leader also expressed his appreciation for the UAE's pledge of $300 million in financial aid to Syrian refugees during the international donor conference for Syria held recently in Kuwait.

The two leaders also expressed satisfaction at the progress of bilateral ties between the two countries.

Later, Sheikh Khalifa hosted a lunch banquet in honour of his royal guest and his accompanying delegation, which was attended by a number of sheikhs and senior officials.

Call for developing and conserving desert resources

The National Environment Day is a fitting annual event during which both public and private energies are pooled together throughout the year to highlight the desert as a national environmental issue of top priority, Sheikh Khalifa said on Sunday.

In an address to the nation on the 16th National Environment Day, the President said the UAE is marking the day for the third year running under the theme ''Desert Pulsing with Life'' to make the desert the focus of attention and activities.

''The desert occupies the largest part of our country and is the factor with the deepest and far-reaching impact on our cultural history and social activity and tremendous influence in our economy. The desert is the source of water and natural wealth and an incubator of pasture and medical plants. It is the source of our home, life, identity and our future. It is land thriving with life,'' Sheikh Khalifa added.

For these reasons, the President stressed, protection and conservation of desert resources to ensure their sustainable development is a key component of the national responsibility which requires both federal and local bodies to come forward with plans to develop the desert environment, maintain its ecological balance, and increase investment in its resources so as to stimulate the national economy, protect the environment and achieve welfare and health being for both nationals and expatriates.

 Praising efforts being made by the Ministry of Environment and Water and other government and non-government organisations to engage in the national celebrations, the President called on all segments of the community to contribute effectively in efforts aimed at protecting ''our desert environment'', developing and conserving its diversity and serenity so to that it may remain pulsing with life forever.