Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces discussed yesterday with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi ways to enhance relations between the two countries, as well as issues of mutual interest.

This came as the Italian Prime Minister received Sheikh Mohamed yesterday at Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall of Florence.

The Italian Prime Minister welcomed Sheikh Mohamed and expressed his confidence that his visit would contribute to strengthening relations between the two friendly countries and peoples.

He offered his condolences to Sheikh Mohamed on the UAE martyrs who fell while performing their national duty as part of the coalition forces in the Operation: Restoring Hope in Yemen. He also extended condolences to the leadership, government and people of the UAE, and to the martyrs' families.

Sheikh Mohamed thanked Matteo Renzi for his genuine and noble feelings.

The meeting touched on the ties of friendship and cooperation between the UAE and Italy and ways to boost them, particularly in political, economic and investment fields.

Sheikh Mohamed stressed the importance of a wider cooperation between the two countries and various partnerships among economic and investment sectors.

During the meeting attended by Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohamed said continuous meetings between the officials in the two countries would create opportunities to exchange views on topics of mutual interest. He added that the business sectors in the two countries have the potentials and expertise to grow cooperation through joint economic and development programmes in all fields.

He went on to say that the UAE was keen on developing cooperation with Italy in all fields on the basis of mutual respect, friendship and mutual benefits.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said he was pleased to meet with Sheikh Mohamed and expressed his country's keenness to further its relations with the UAE.

Sheikh Mohamed and Renzi discussed regional and international developments and exchanged views on a number of issues.

Sheikh Mohamed was accompanied during his visit by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, Ali Mohammed Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Under Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, Nasser Al Raesi, UAE Ambassador to Italy, Mohammed Al Abbar, CEO of Eagle Hills Company, and Major General Isa Saif Abalan Al Mazrouei, Deputy Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces.

The Italian Prime Minister hosted a dinner banquet in honour of Sheikh Mohamed and his accompanying delegation which was attended by Luca Lotti, State Secretary of the Italian Prime Minister's Office, Armando Varricchio, Diplomatic Advisor to Italian Prime Minister, Liborio Stellino, Italian Ambassador to the UAE and a number of Italian officials.

Ahead of the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed toured Florence town hall and was briefed by the Italian Prime Minister on the rare art collection there.
Source: WAM