ABU DHABI // Since announcing the UAE-Canada Shared Strategic Agenda six months ago, the two nations have worked together on a number of issues of common interest, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his Canadian counterpart, John Baird, said yesterday.
As well as advancing shared interests under the existing areas of their strategic partnership - prosperity, security and development - the UAE and Canada have agreed to add regional issues as an area of collaboration.
Topping this new agenda was a focus on Iran, Egypt and Syria.
“Only verifiable, irreversible and measurable progress to resolve nuclear non-compliance will demonstrate Iran’s commitment to a more constructive mode of engagement with the region and with the international community,” a joint statement released by Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Baird read.
The statement also said stability in Egypt and a humanitarian aid in Syria were priorities for both countries.
The UAE and Canada will expand bilateral commercial relations in the months ahead and “will launch a process seeking to conclude an agreement to promote and protect investment in each other’s countries”.
The two countries will also continue working on cooperation on police, corrections and border issues, in addition to efforts to collaborate on counter-terrorism and countering extremism. Discussions on a defence cooperation agreement will also move ahead.
Development will continue to be an important part of the shared strategic agenda.
“Over the coming months, our countries will identify opportunities for cooperation in supporting economic development efforts in several third countries in mutually held priority areas - for example, sustainable economic growth,” the statement read.
The two also said they have asked senior officials for reports on progress made over the last six months and recommendations on how the partnership could be strengthened.
“We have made significant progress in the past six months alone,” the statement read.
“We are setting ambitious targets for the next six months.”
“Since agreeing on the Shared Strategic Agenda, both countries now see even more clearly our long-term interest in cooperating with each other, including on our shared vision for regional and global security, stability and prosperity.”
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