Mohammed receives Irish Prime Minister

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received today the visiting Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, and his accompanying delegation at his Palace in Zabeel, in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

Sheikh Mohammed and Kenny exchanged talks on the regional and global political and economic situation and ways to strengthen the opportunities for peace and development as main elements in strengthening stability and welfare, for the benefit of the peoples of the region and the world. They also discussed the decades- old cooperation and historic friendly relationship between the two friendly people.

Sheikh Mohammed noted that the UAE is building bridges of communication and cooperation with all countries especially in the economic, educational, tourist and other fields, based on its leadership's conviction of the importance of cooperation in these fields, which would contribute to achieving convergence between peoples and communities.

The Vice President welcomed any positive steps towards building a wider partnership between the UAE and Ireland to serve the higher interests of both peoples.

On his part, Kenny extended thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Mohammed for the warm reception and generosity, which, he said, had allowed him to discuss with Sheikh Mohammed a number of issues of mutual concern, in particular the enhancing of cooperation and finding new ways to strengthen the ties of friendship between the two sides.

The Irish Prime Minister hailed the tremendous cultural, social and economic development achieved by the UAE at all levels, reflected in the welfare and prosperity of the Emiratis, and praised the sophisticated infrastructure and cultural and social diversity, which is deemed a unique feature of the Emirati community.

Sheikh Mohammed and Kenny also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of Higher Education and Scientific Research between the UAE and Ireland.

Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and the Irish Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, signed the MoU, which seeks to strengthen ties between educational institutions through the signing of joint agreements in addition to encouraging both sides to hold educational seminars and conferences.

Under the MoU, the two sides will promote exchange of visits between professors and researchers and others, in addition to supporting Government scholarships.

Among those who attended the meeting and the signing of the MoU were Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, Saqr bin Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Labour and chairman of the honorary mission accompanying the delegation, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of the Court of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai, Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality, the UAE Ambassador to Ireland, Khalid Nasser Rashid Lootah, and Patrick Hennessy, Irish Ambassador to UAE, and the delegation accompanying the Prime Minister.

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