President of Russia Vladimir Putin met with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
Taking part in the talks on the Russian side were Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office and Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Aide to the President Yury Ushakov, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, First Deputy Minister of Energy Pavel Sorokin, Special Presidential Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries and Chief Executive Officer of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev, President of the Russian Fertiliser Producers Association, member of the Board of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and Head of the Russian Part of the BRICS Business Council Andrei Guryev, and Director General of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation Alexei Likhachev.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Your Highness, I am very pleased to see you again and to have this opportunity to speak with you.
At the outset, I would like to note that this December, if I am not mistaken, our countries will mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Much has changed over these years, both in the world and in our bilateral ties. The United Arab Emirates has become one of our closest partners in the region. Our cooperation extends well beyond the economic sphere, although our economic ties are developing successfully, with trade reaching substantial levels and continuing to grow. We also maintain close cooperation on political and security matters.
Of course, the region is currently going through a very difficult period. Nevertheless, we remain in close and constant contact with the UAE leadership, including your father, the President [of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.] Please convey my warmest regards to him. We maintain regular contact. Our officials exchange visits, meet frequently and discuss a wide range of issues. We also speak by phone to address the most important and pressing matters. I am confident that, despite the current difficulties, the situation will stabilise and our relations will remain strong and continue to develop. I have no doubt about that.
I would like to say once again how pleased I am to see you and to have this opportunity to discuss our bilateral relations. And, of course, it is very important for us to hear your assessment of the developments currently unfolding in the region and your outlook for the future.
It is a pleasure to see you, Your Highness.
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