The UAE and India will set up an Emirati-Indian parliamentary committee and exchange visits of parliamentarians from both countries. This was decided during a meeting between Dr Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), and T.P. Seetharam, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, at the FNC’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

The meeting was aimed at discussing ways of promoting parliamentary cooperation between the UAE and India as part of the distinguished and growing strategic partnership the two countries share.

During the meeting, Dr Al Qubaisi stressed the importance of activating parliamentary relations between the FNC and the Indian parliament through the establishment of a friendly Emirati-Indian parliamentary committee, and by prompting parliamentary visits between the two sides.

Al Qubaisi added that it is important that the two sides continue to strengthen relations in all fields and achieve the required communication for parliamentary diplomacy, as well as to unify their visions and positions on various issues as part of their important roles in addressing security and stability issues and challenges facing the region.

The two sides stressed the importance of seeking consultation and coordination between the FNC and Indian parliament delegations during their participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union in order to unify positions and views on various issues of interest to both countries and peoples.

The two sides also agreed to prepare a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a friendly Emirati-Indian parliamentary committee, and highlighted existing areas of cooperation between the UAE and India in various political, economic, cultural and investment sectors.

The FNC speaker and the Indian ambassador stressed that bilateral relations between the UAE and India have reached a higher level of strategic partnership following the visit by His Highness Shaikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in February 2016 to India, which established a new historical phase in relations between two countries and peoples.

During the meeting, Dr Al Qubaisi also paid tribute to the important role played by the Indian parliament locally and internationally in serving the people of India, adding that India has a deep-rooted democracy in the world and serves as a model for a constitution based on democracy, pluralism, and women’s political participation.

Source: gulfnews.com