Turkey-UAE ties move to new level, says Emirati Minister
Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are entering a new era of relations, said the Emirati Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology on Wednesday, Anadolu News Agency reports.
Speaking to Turkish state broadcaster, TRT, Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber said that Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan's visit to Turkey, which comes upon the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is of great importance in many aspects.
"This visit comes at a time when the UAE and Turkey are working together on a vision of a more peaceful, stable and prosperous future for the region. The focus of this cooperation is tolerance, mutual benefit, common interests and, of course, building bridges," Al-Jaber said.
The main goal of the visit, he said, is to support the creation of economic value by fostering trade and business partnerships, and by securing successful sustainable investments, Al-Jaber said.
Al-Nahyan has arrived in Ankara on Wednesday for his first to Turkey since 2012, and the first top-level meeting between the UAE and Turkey in recent years.
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"The UAE and Turkey have the two most dynamic economies and societies in the region. We both have different cultures, we are both focused on the economic path and we believe that the economic process is the key to a sustainable future," the Emirati Minister said.
He also said that the Turkey-UAE relations are not new and the two countries have enjoyed social, economic and cultural cooperation for many years.
"The visit of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan at the invitation of President Erdogan, truly marks a new era in taking this relationship to a new level. Both countries have very strong common foundations. We can and should develop this."
Al-Jaber explained that they have comprehensively discussed the partnership between Turkey and the UAE, and this cooperation will be built on the existing ground between the two countries. The economic, trade and social ties in multiple sectors will be developed, he also said.
"Of course, this includes energy, health, food, agriculture, logistics, ports, transportation, industry, manufacturing, infrastructure, finance and capital markets, technology, tourism, culture and more," he elaborated.
He went on to say that the cooperation "also covers global issues such as climate change, energy, food and water security."
Al-Jaber pointed out that the UAE is Turkey's largest regional trading partner, stating that the UAE's exports to Turkey increased by more than 110 per cent from 2019 to 2020, with total trade increasing by 21 per cent. The UAE has invested mostly in Turkey's transportation, renewable energy and tourism sectors in the last five years.
Turkish investments in the UAE have also focused on construction, automotive parts and renewable energy, he said, adding: "Now we are looking forward to moving to the next stage and seeking further cooperation and investment. We are ready to develop these successful investments by identifying pathways. I look forward to expanding these partnerships across a range of fields and industries."
'Turkey is a great natural partner'
Citing a mutual vision for common interest, general commitment and peace, stability and real prosperity, Al-Jaber said, "From our conversations with our various Turkish counterparts and partners, we have a very similar perspective and it has become clear that we strategically agree on a number of important topics."
He stated that the "art of partnership" is in their DNA and emphasised that it is the key to their success in the past years.
Celebrating the UAE's 50th anniversary, the Minister stressed that building partnerships and bridges will continue to be at the centre of their development plans for the next 50 years.
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The UAE focuses on prioritising sustainable economic growth and prosperity together with regional and global partners, Al-Jaber. "This means establishing stronger economic, commercial and cultural ties with countries around the world, such as Turkey. Turkey is a great natural partner for us as a close regional neighbour."
Inviting the Turkish people to the UAE, the Emirati Minister also recommended visiting Expo 2020 currently hosted in Dubai to see how 192 countries, including Turkey, have come together to "connect their minds and create the future".
UAE invests $10bn into Turkey, signing deals to improve ties
An agreement was struck for direct investments and cooperation in the sectors of energy, petrochemicals, technology, transportation, infrastructure, health, financial services, food and agriculture
Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has today hosted Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, inking major deals as the two countries set out to improve bilateral relations after years of rivalry.
In what was the first meeting between the two leaders in almost a decade since the Crown Prince's last visit to Turkey in 2012, Erdogan welcomed bin Zayed at the presidential palace in the capital, Ankara, today.
According to reports, they held talks with one another regarding expanded cooperation and various regional and international developments, before the President dined with the Crown Prince as is customary.
Following the meetings, the chairman of UAE state investment fund, ADQ, Mohammed Hassan Al-Suwaidi, announced to Turkish media that Abu Dhabi will be investing $10 billion into Turkey through a variety of agreements and projects.
Signed between the ADQ and the Turkey Wealth Fund and Presidential Investment Office, the investment agreements include those in ports and logistics by the Abu Dhabi Port Company and cooperation between the two countries' stock exchanges.
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An agreement was struck for direct investments and cooperation in the sectors of energy, petrochemicals, technology, transportation, infrastructure, health, financial services, food and agriculture.
Additionally, investments are to be pumped into renewable energy in Turkey, covering both existing and new projects. A memorandum of understanding was also made in order to generally strengthen ties in trade, energy and environmental issues.
According to the Emirati Industry Minister, Sultan Al-Jaber, the main purpose of the Crown Prince's visit was to increase partnerships in trade and business between the two countries through a set of sustainable investments.
The improvement in Ankara and Abu Dhabi's relations comes after years of rivalry and hostility between them, in which Turkey supported popular protests and movements in the Arab Spring while the UAE attempted to undermine Turkey's interests and its allies in Libya and Syria.
Following the failed coup attempt in Turkey in 2016, the government also accused the UAE of being involved in the plot, leading to the deterioration in relations and the subsequent boycott of Turkey and its goods by the UAE and other Gulf Arab states, such as Saudi Arabia.
'Exceptional visit': UAE media praise meeting between Turkish, Emirati leaders
News outlets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were full of praise for Wednesday's meeting in the Turkish capital, Ankara, between Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The UAE's Crown Prince was on an official visit to Turkey on Wednesday, his first since 2012 amid a strong renewal of bilateral relations between Abu Dhabi and Ankara, Anadolu News Agency reports.
Following a meeting between the two leaders at the presidential complex, Turkey and the UAE signed bilateral cooperation agreements in numerous fields, including trade, energy and the environment.
The UAE also allocated a $10 billion fund to invest in Turkey.
'Exceptional' visit
Al-Khaleej Daily hailed the visit to Turkey as "exceptional."
It said Prince Al-Nahyan's meeting with President Erdogan paves the way for the renewal of relations "between the two countries within the framework of common political, economic, commercial and investment interests, in a manner that serves to advance the process of development and progress."
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The meeting bears "exceptional importance, because it moves relations with Turkey to a new phase, not only with the UAE but with various Arab countries, based on historical, geographical and religious relations and many common interests," said the paper.
'Correcting course of history'
For Al-Watan Daily, the UAE's Emir's visit to Turkey "corrects the course of history" and constitutes "a critical and very important station" on which relations between the two countries will be built "especially with regard to the economic aspect."
It also described the visit as "historic" and one that "heralds a new era of cooperation" between Turkey and UAE, citing the various agreements the two countries inked following the meeting between the two leaders.
Moreover, Al-Watan said the visit gives "impetus" in relations between the countries, which can be capitalised on to cooperate and reach consensus on important issues in the Middle East.
Promising prospects
Meanwhile, Al-Bayan Daily praised Sheikh Al-Nahyan's meeting with President Erdogan as one that opens "promising prospects for development and prosperity in the region."
The newspaper said the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and ways to open new horizons for cooperation and joint work in all areas that serve their mutual interests, in addition to all regional and international issues and developments of concern to the two countries.
The daily cited Al-Nahyan hailing Turkey as "an important country with great role and influence in its regional and international surroundings," noting the UAE's keenness "to cooperate with it in finding peaceful solutions to crises in the region in order to achieve peace and stability and open new horizons."
READ: UAE invests $10bn into Turkey, signing deals to improve ties
Al-Ruya Daily said the visit "lays out a vision for a peaceful, stable and prosperous future for the region."
Al-Nahyan's meeting with President Erdogan saw Turkey and the UAE ink 10 agreements on energy, the environment, finance and trade.
After concluding his visit to Ankara, the UAE ruler sent a telegram to the Turkish president expressing his appreciation for the warm welcome and hospitality shown to him and his delegation.
