The 1st UAE-India Joint Consular Commission meeting in New Delhi has concluded. The two-day meeting was co-chaired by Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Ministry and Indian Under-Secretary for East Affairs, Ashok Kantha.

Present in the meeting were Ambassador of the UAE to India, Mohamed Sultan Abdalla Al-Owais, ministries and departments representatives in both countries.

During the meeting, Al Hamed conveyed the greetings of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister and Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs who wished success and good luck for the meeting.

He referred to historic ties between the two countries, wishing that the meeting would lead to more contributions which meet the aspirations of the leaderships of the two friendly countries. He also extended thanks and appreciation to the Indian side, wishing good luck and success for the good of the two sides.

Earliar, Ashok Kantha welcomed the UAE delegation, stressing the development of bilateral relations between the UAE and India.

The committee discussed horizons of cooperation between the two countries, which witnessed notable progress.

On the sidelines of the meeting between the two countries, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Butti Al Hamed met with the Indian Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid and discussed bilateral relations and the positive outcome of the meeting.

The UAE-India bilateral trade reached US$71 billion during 2012 while flights by the national carriers to India reached 375 weekly.