Abu Dhabi, 15 Feb 2022 (Anadolu, Khaleej Times)

Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have a common goal of taking bilateral ties to higher levels, the Turkish president said on Tuesday.

Addressing businesspeople and investors in Abu Dhabi, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "We are taking necessary steps to strengthen economic ties in all areas, especially in infrastructure, aviation, banking, and finance."

The Turkish president, who last visited the UAE in 2013, is in the country for a two-day visit at the invitation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Turkish President  was addressing to the business community in Abu Dhabi, he said that both countries have a strong will to enhance trade relations and boost investments, which was manifested by the signing of 13 cooperation agreements in various sectors on Monday.

Agreements on the defense industry, health, climate change, industry, technology, trade, economy, culture, agriculture, trade, economy, youth, transportation, disaster management, meteorology, communication, and archive were inked during a meeting between the Turkish and UAE delegations chaired jointly by Erdogan and Sheikh Mohammed.

Erdogan said the UAE is Turkiye's prominent trade partner in the Gulf region, and trade volume and buoyancy in private sector partnership were maintained even during a period of tense relations.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reviewed the prospects of further consolidating bilateral relations and advancing cooperation and joint work between the two nations in various fields.

Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Erdogan's visit to UAE and expressed hope this "significant visit would create further momentum to strengthening cooperation and building a new prosperous phase of partnerships for the higher good of the two countries, their peoples and all the nations of the region."

“We discussed opportunities to strengthen our bilateral relations and witnessed the signing of several agreements and MOUs aimed at expanding co-operation between our two countries.”

Sheikh Mohamed thanked Turkey for its condemnation of the recent terrorist attacks on civilian sites in the UAE by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince said agreements made during his visit to Turkey in November had provided a platform for economic and trade partnerships between the countries.

The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince said agreements made during his visit to Turkey in November had provided a platform for economic and trade partnerships between the countries.

During that visit, the UAE announced it was setting up a US$ 10 billion investment fund in Turkey.

Later, President Erdogan visited Expo 2020 Dubai, where he was welcomed by Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid AlMaktoum, Vice President of United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai,