UNGA78: UAE, India foreign ministers meet, discuss COP28

The UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met with Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India, on the sidelines of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) in New York, reported state news agency WAM.

The meeting, held against the backdrop of longstanding friendly relations, focused on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

Strategic partnership

Sheikh Abdullah and Dr Jaishankar discussed the historical ties and the comprehensive strategic partnership between the UAE and India. They explored avenues to further enhance cooperation within the framework of this strategic partnership, which has been in place since 2017, along with the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement established in 2022.

COP28

The UAE Foreign Minister and his Indian counterpart also delved into the pressing issue of climate change. Given the UAE’s role as the host of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) this year in Expo City Dubai, they exchanged views on bilateral cooperation and actions that can be taken to address climate change on a global scale.

Sheikh Abdullah noted that COP28 represents a unique opportunity to highlight the exceptional ties between the UAE and India and the significance of international cooperation in addressing pressing challenges.

Engagements with other foreign ministers

In addition to the meeting with Dr Jaishankar, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held separate discussions with several foreign ministers participating in UNGA78. These discussions covered a range of topics on the UNGA78 agenda, with a particular focus on climate change and sustainable development.

UAE’s role in climate action

The UAE Foreign Minister briefed his counterparts on the preparations for COP28, which is scheduled to be held at Expo City Dubai from November 30 to December 12. The ministers expressed confidence in the UAE’s ability to lead global climate action, citing its pioneering and innovative initiatives in deploying renewable and clean energy solutions.