UAE and UK ministers discuss co-operation on trade and security

Dr Anwar Gargash and Andrew Murrison hold talks in London

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Andrew Murrison, UK Secretary of State for the Middle East, meet as part of the 19th UAE-UK Taskforce in London in February. Wam

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Gargash, and UK Secretary of State for the Middle East, Andrew Murrison, met in London on Tuesday to discuss joint action on trade, security and other issues.

The two met as part of the 19th UAE-UK Taskforce, reported state news agency Wam.

The Emirati delegation included officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Justice, Defence, Interior, and Climate Change and Environment.

They met with British counterparts from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Home Office, Department for International Development and Department for International Trade.

"Today’s 19th UAE-UK Taskforce meeting provided a forum to address a number of issues central to the enduring partnership shared by the UAE and UK,” Dr Gargash said in a statement.

“Our two countries remain firmly committed to pursuing advanced prospects for co-operation in key sectors to the benefit of our peoples, and we welcome with optimism the results of our fruitful discussions on matters of joint importance," he said.

As well as trade and security, the two sides discussed the possibilities for cultural exchange and made a commitment to combating illicit finance and serious crime.

The UAE delegation asked questions about the UK investment environment post-Brexit and reaffirmed the importance of the Joint Economic Council and UAE-UK Business Council.

Both sides discussed the coming Expo 2020 Dubai, the first expo to be hosted in the Middle East, where the UAE will welcome millions of visitors.

They also spoke of their respective efforts to combat climate change. The COP26 conference on climate change will be held on the Scottish city of Glasgow in November.

The UAE-UK Taskforce was created following visits by British Prime Minister David Cameron to the UAE and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation to the UK in 2010.