Despite the growing geopolitical shifts and pandemic aftermaths hitting the economy, UAE and India relations have been growing strong. This became more and more evident at the Joint Commission Meeting held in 2020, despite the pandemic restrictions.
The India UAE relations were indeed reclaimed. It was the 13th session of such a bilateral summit, which is held by both the countries every year to reflect and build on their diplomatic ties.
The extensive preparation was seen through tweet that was shared by the Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, who thanked UAE and ‘co-chairing the 13th (Virtual) India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting. Reviewed the continuing growth of our broad-based cooperation. Their content and expanse are a testimony to our new era of relations.’
While the meeting was held between India and UAE in a virtual mode, the results were remarkable. Participation was made by EAM Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India and Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates and a delegation from both sides.
Within the JCB meetings, other key sectors that were on top of the agenda were Food Security and Energy with the UAE government appreciating the Indian side in its efforts to keep up its promises of help and support with the same. The Indian government, on the other hand, welcomed the various infrastructure projects that the UAE has taken up in India ranging from logistics, food parks, highways, ports, airports, renewable energy and defence. The summit being one of its kind was appreciated by both the Indian as well as the UAEs side for the earnest attempt to keep improving their diplomatic relationship even at the times of such adversities.
UAE and India continue to hold similar thought processes, whether it is about religious acceptance and tolerance, reaching out to humanity in pandemic times or initiating peaceful dialogue between Ukraine and Russia. Both countries’ leadership has shown a growing bond, evident from the steady growth promise each is giving the other, amidst volatile changes in geopolitics worldwide.
This also becomes evident as the summit became a ground to discuss bilateral cooperation in defeating the Coronavirus menace and they worked upon a joint strategy to mitigate the economic and social impact that the pandemic is capable of causing. Both countries also pledged to formulate strategies to cooperate and support each other in various multilateral forums such as The United Nations. All the deliberation on trade and investment prospects made by both sides were positively acknowledged and a commitment to improving these extensive mutual agreements was also made by India and UAE.