President of India Mrs. Pratibah Patil arrived in Abu Dhabi on November 21 on her four day maiden visit.
During her stay President Patil met her UAE Counterpart H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Supreme Council member and ruler of Sharjah His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi.
She also Inaugurated an Indian Workers Resource Centre in Abu Dhabi, designed to provide a 24-hour helpline and counseling service to the India workers. She also Inaugurated India Islamic Cultural Centre in Abu Dhabi besides open an India Trade Centre in Sharjah.
Indian President Pratibha Patil’s visit marked as a New Chapter between India and UAE relations as commented by most of the UAE media.
According to the reports President Pratibha Patil’s visit got off to a flying start when she met with the President, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in what was described as a very warm and cordial atmosphere. The Indian president was fulsome in her praise for the enormous strides taken by the UAE in recent years and recognised its pragmatic leadership and its role in the region as well as on the global stage.
President Khalifa placed on record the profound role of Indian expats in nation building, which is a very heartening message. He rightly stressed the role India plays in achieving peace and security in the Indian Ocean and also its standing in the comity of nations, ostensibly a reference to the sub-continental giant as a power that has emerged.
The UAE, home to the largest single contingent of Indians in every job description possible, also recognises that India is now a spearhead of the future markets and a nation of immense power and presence. President Patil echoed much the same sentiment in lauding the UAE's role in bolstering international peace and security and called for even more enhancement in regional co-operation, all comments that are certain to foster not just goodwill for the now but a long-term strategic partnership in moving forward together.
With both nations having similar views on security, peace and the common enemies of mankind like disease, poverty and injustice, the new era in the relationship being shaped in the next 48 hours will certainly ensure that these two countries not only positively exploit a closeness that is rooted deep in the centuries of the past but move forward to the same beat in tackling the problems of tomorrow. These include climate change, the handling of terrorism through a sharing of intelligence, the dispensation of narcotics and criminal activity, including a zero tolerance assurance on the issue of mutual extradition, all of which will create the right basis for the fruition of other co-operative ventures in which India and the UAE can both benefit.
News papers underscored that with peace in the region and stability at the epicenter in Asia the need for nations such as these to speak with one voice and generate influence of the right sort, it is necessary to share views and use global and regional forums effectively. The UAE is an integrally vital member of the GCC, the Arab League and has made powerful representations in the UN on matters of international importance.
News papers concluded that India will naturally like to see the UAE as a friend and ally. With the massive Indian presence in situ the UAE also sees that as a bridge to a wider market, a potentially exponential market in which to invest especially in the areas of communication, energy, power and education as well as trade and commerce. The message from both leaders comes out strongly. Partners in business but above all, friends first and always.
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