Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has held talks with the Brazilian President on the sidelines of the 17th Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Sheikh Khaled is attending the summit that runs over two days, starting on Sunday, on behalf of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held a reception for Sheikh Khaled and the UAE delegation, state news agency Wam reported on Sunday. Sheikh Khaled underlined the UAE’s pride in its strategic relationship with Brazil, built on "decades of co-operation, mutual respect and shared interests".
In his address to the body, he emphasised that building strong partnerships founded on sustainable development and shared prosperity will contribute to advancing mutual interests.
Sheikh Khaled also reaffirmed the UAE’s support for constructive dialogue and economic integration as central pillars for achieving global stability. Brics leaders on Sunday called for negotiators to reach a quick and unconditional ceasefire to end the Israel-Gaza war.
"We exhort the parties to engage in good faith in further negotiations to achieve an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire," the 11-nation bloc said in a statement. Members also called for a "full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and all other parts of the occupied Palestinian territories".
A delegation from the UAE also took part in the annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the New Development Bank of the Brics group, state news agency Wam reported.
"The UAE’s accession to Brics opens new avenues for co-operation with the bank, particularly through the development of strategic partnerships, with development institutions, and public and private sector stakeholders," said Mohamed Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs.
"These efforts will contribute to achieving sustainable growth among member states. The expansion of the bank’s membership is a clear sign of its rising international stature.
"As the bank marks its 10th anniversary, this moment presents an opportunity to evaluate its achievements and reflect on its growing global role.”
The UAE delegation features Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation; Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Ahmed Al Sayegh, Minister of State; Saif Ghobash, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of the Office of the Crown Prince; Maryam Almheiri, chairwoman of the Abu Dhabi Media Office and adviser on strategic relations at the Crown Prince Court; Saeed Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic and Trade Affairs; and Saleh Al Suwaidi, UAE ambassador to Brazil, state news agency Wam reported.
The UAE’s membership of the Brics groups is part of its commitment to dialogue and multilateral co-operation to promote peace, security and development through networks that represent emerging economies on the world stage.
The founding nations of Brics were Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The UAE was invited to join an expanded bloc in August 2023 along with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia and Ethiopia. The UAE joined Brics in January 2024.
