UAE and France to work together to combat climate change and explore space

Emirati and French ministers sign agreements as part of President Sheikh Mohamed's state visit

President Sheikh Mohamed and French President Emmanuel Macron embrace in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace in Paris on Monday. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sheikh Mohamed, Mr Macron and Brigitte Macron, the French president's wife.

The Emirati and French presidents wave in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace.

A military guard stands to attention as the two leaders meet.

Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron pictured shortly before Sheikh Mohamed's arrival.

French military personnel line up in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace.

The red carpet is rolled out ahead of Sheikh Mohamed's arrival, in this image shared on his Twitter account

Sheikh Mohamed pictured in a photo shared on his Twitter account

Sheikh Mohamed with Mr Macron at the Elysee Palace. Also present are Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, managing director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi Executive Council member; Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, vice chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation; Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Abu Dhabi Executive Council member, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and managing director group chief executive of Mubadala Investment Company; and Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, group chief executive of Adnoc and chairman of Masdar. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed attends an official reception, hosted by Sebastien Lecornu, France's Minister of the Armed Forces, at the Army Museum in Paris. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Lecornu stand for the French national anthem during the official reception. Photo: Presidential Court

The UAE delegation at the Army Museum in Paris. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed at the Army Museum at Les Invalides palace. Pictured with Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, left, and Mr Lecornu. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, at the Army Museum. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, attends a reception at the Army Museum. Seen with Xavier Chatel, French ambassador to the UAE. Photo: Presidential Court

A French honour guard at the Army Museum. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed and Gerard Larcher, President of the French Senate, left, inspect the honour guard before a meeting at the Luxembourg Palace. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed is received by Gerard Larcher, President of the French Senate, at Luxembourg Palace. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed with Mr Larcher at the Luxembourg Palace. Photo: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed signs a guest book at the Luxembourg Palace. Seen with Mr Larcher. Photo: Presidential Court

The UAE and France have signed a series of key agreements aimed at boosting the fight against climate change, strengthening partnerships in space exploration and defence and furthering co-operation in higher education.

Ten deals were struck on Monday to enhance bilateral ties, as part of President Sheikh Mohamed's state visit to France.

Emirati and French ministers set out plans to work closely together across a number of fields.

UAE and France sign 10 agreements

1. A letter of intent regarding granting permission to family members of staff of diplomatic missions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation to engage in business.

This was signed by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna.

2. A joint declaration on co-operation between the UAE and France in the higher education field, signed by Sheikh Abdullah and Ms Colonna.

3. An agreement between the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and Avnor Group for co-operation in the field of standardisation.

4. An agreement between the Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change and the French government in the field of climate action, signed by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, and Agnes Pannier-Runacher, French Minister of Energy Transition.

5. A road map for co-operation between the UAE's Tawazun Economic Council and the General Directorate of Armaments in the French Ministry of Defence, signed by Ahmed Al Harmoudi, chief executive of the council, and Thierry Carlier, director of international development in the French General Directorate for Armaments.

6. An agreement between the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and France's National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) focusing on lunar exploration. It was signed by Salem Humaid Al Marri, director general of the MBRSC, and Philippe Baptiste, president of the CNES.

7. A letter of intent on Earth observation between the MBRSC and the CNES.

8. Letter of Intent regarding human spaceflight activities between the MBRSC and the CNES.

9. An agreement establishing co-operation between the Pasteur Institute and the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre was signed by Matar Saeed Al Nuaimi, director general of the ADPHC, and Prof Stewart Cole, president of the institute.

10. The founding contract of NT Energies between Technip and the National Petroleum Construction Company. It was signed by Ahmed Al Dhaheri, chief executive of NPCC, and Arnaud Pieton, chief executive of Technip.

In addition, President Sheikh Mohamed and French President Emmanuel Macron witnessed the signing of two major energy agreements in Paris.

The first was a comprehensive strategic energy partnership between the UAE and France, and the second a strategic partnership agreement between Adnoc and TotalEnergies.

The CSEP focuses on enhancing energy security, affordability and decarbonisation, and progressive climate action before Cop28, which is set to take place in the UAE in 2023, state news agency Wam reported.

Sheikh Mohamed attends banquet hosted by French president – in pictures

President Sheikh Mohamed gives a speech during a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Versailles Grand Trianon in Paris on Monday. All photos: Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Macron witnessed the launch of the UAE-France Business Council.

Sheikh Mohamed arrives at the Versailles Grand Trianon.

Earlier in the day, the UAE and France signed two major energy agreements.

The first was a Comprehensive Strategic Energy Partnership between the two countries and the second was a strategic partnership agreement between Adnoc and TotalEnergies.

Sheikh Mohamed at the dinner hosted by Mr Macron.

Sheikh Mohamed, Mr Macron and France's first lady Brigitte Macron at the Versailles Grand Trianon.

Sheikh Mohamed, Mr Macron, Mrs Macron and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court.