Abdallah ben Zayed Meets Barbados Prime Minister in Bridgetown to Discuss Cooperation and Climate Issues
Bridgetown, September 30, 2017 - His Highness Sheikh Abdallah ben Zayed Al Nahyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Her Excellency Mia Amor Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados, to discuss cooperation between their countries and explore opportunities for collaboration across various sectors, with a particular focus on climate and renewable energies.
This meeting took place during His Highness's working visit to the Republic of Barbados, where he held discussions with Her Excellency Mia Amor Mottley, joined by Her Excellency Kerry Symonds, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
His Highness and the Barbadian Prime Minister deliberated on mechanisms to strengthen bilateral cooperation in several areas, including the economy, tourism, and trade, aiming to support sustainable growth efforts.
Furthermore, His Highness briefed Her Excellency Mia Amor Mottley about the United Arab Emirates' preparations for hosting the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28). He outlined the event's agenda and the UAE's presidency priorities, particularly in ensuring climate-related funding to facilitate a just energy transition.
His Highness Sheikh Abdallah ben Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized that sustainable development is a global priority and an inherent right of all nations. Achieving it requires a qualitative shift in climate action, mobilizing global efforts to attain climate neutrality and implementing innovative initiatives to support this objective.
He also highlighted the UAE's support for the Bridgetown Initiative, led by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley since COP 26. This initiative seeks international financing for climate action, particularly for countries most vulnerable to climate change, contributing to their response to its impacts. He stressed the significance of bolstering global efforts in addressing international financial reform issues within the climate agenda.
His Highness expressed the hope of Barbados' participation in the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) and praised Barbados' pioneering efforts in global climate action.
The discussions between His Highness Sheikh Abdallah ben Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley also covered various common interests and regional and international developments.
His Highness underscored the exceptional relations between the two countries and the importance of leveraging available opportunities to strengthen and advance joint cooperation in all areas.
In response, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley expressed confidence in the UAE's leadership in global climate action, acknowledging their skills and capabilities in hosting COP 28. She commended the UAE's groundbreaking initiatives in the global renewable and clean energy sector, as well as their distinguished and innovative strategy to achieve climate neutrality.
The meeting took place in the presence of His Excellency Saeed Mubarak Al-Hajri, the Deputy Minister of Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His Highness Sheikh Abdallah ben Zayed Al Nahyan had previously arrived in Barbados at the beginning of a tour that included several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. This tour aimed to strengthen friendly relations between the United Arab Emirates and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, while also exploring opportunities for joint cooperation in various domains, particularly in the economic and climate sectors. This tour coincided with the UAE's preparations to host the 28th session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28), scheduled for November and December in Expo City Dubai. Accelerating global climate action is a cornerstone for advancing sustainable economic development paths.
