UAE and France discuss bilateral relations at key summit

The high-level meeting talked about increased trade and investment between the two countries

Louvre Abu Dhabi a symbol of UAE-French cooperation. Both sides discussed increased trade and investment across a range of areas during the meeting. Courtesy: DCT Abu Dhabi

The UAE and France discussed bilateral relations and developments in the past 10 years at a key virtual summit on Tuesday.

Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi, Francois Delattre, secretary general of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and several officials attended.

The high-level meeting talked about increased trade and investment, and discussed bilateral co-operation in various sectors, such as oil and gas, nuclear and renewable energy, education, health and food security.

The talks also focused on anti-money laundering and terrorism.

Officials also spoke of the major achievements of the past decade, such as the opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and the signing of the 2009 Joint Defence Agreement.

Khaldoon Al Mubarak Pawan Singh / The National

Both countries discussed ways to advance co-operation with African countries.

A 10-year, bilateral roadmap of the UAE-France strategic partnership (2020-2030) was adopted in June 2020.

Officials also welcomed the announcement of a new co-investment partnership dedicated to Africa between Bpifrance, an investment bank, and Mubadala Investment Company.

The countries discussed climate change and hope to organise a One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund event in the UAE in October.

They praised the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy programme and the successful commercial operation of the first unit of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant.

They expressed their satisfaction with the progress made in the nuclear field, specifically the recent agreement between Framatome, a French nuclear reactor business, and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation’s JV subsidiary, Nawah Energy Company.

Both countries praised their joint efforts to fight the Covid–19 pandemic and agreed to increase co-operation in health and medicine.

They also commended the success of the bilateral residency and fellowship programme, which allows Emirati doctors to get specialisation degrees in France.

The UAE expressed their wish to attract French doctors for fellowship programmes.

Both parties praised their achievements in artificial intelligence.

An agreement - A Vision for a Digital 21st Century - was signed between the two countries in February 2019.

The UAE and France have also set up 42 Abu Dhabi, a coding and programming school, with the help of French computer school école 42.

The first candidates were assessed in May.

Plans to set up campuses of French colleges in the UAE and increase collaboration between educational institutions were also discussed.

The proposed opening of a third branch of Alliance Française in Sharjah was praised, as was an agreement between Institut du Monde Arabe and the Arabic Language Centre to promote Arabic.

France congratulated the UAE on becoming a non-permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations for 2022-2023.

The UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations and the upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai were called milestones that will further develop friendly ties.

France’s Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier docks in Abu Dhabi - in pictures

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  The 42,500-tonne vessel set sail from Toulon 45 days ago on a three-month mission. Delores Johnson / The National

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  Rear Admiral Eric Chaperon from the French carrier, Charles De Gaulle. Delores Johnson / The National

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  The visit to the UAE is the sixth for the Charles de Gaulle since 2001. Delores Johnson / The National

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  The carrier has a crew of 2,600, and is equipped with two nuclear reactors, producing the energy necessary to power four 16MW turbines and two catapults for launching planes. Delores Johnson / The National