In a significant diplomatic development, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the President of Belarus are exploring ways to enhance bilateral relations, focusing on collaboration between the United Arab Emirates and Belarus. The meeting, held at the Independence Palace in Minsk, set the stage for deeper partnerships across various sectors, showcasing the strong ties that have evolved between the two nations.
His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, held an official discussion today with Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus, at the Independence Palace in the Belarusian capital, Minsk.
President Alexander Lukashenko welcomed the visit of His Highness the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and his accompanying delegation at the beginning of the meeting, affirming the strength of the bilateral relations between the Republic of Belarus and the United Arab Emirates.
He expressed his country’s commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation with the UAE for the benefit of both nations and their friendly peoples. His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conveyed the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to President Alexander Lukashenko, wishing him good health and happiness, and wishing the Republic of Belarus and its friendly people continued progress and prosperity. He also expressed his gratitude for the hospitality and warm reception extended to him and his delegation.
In turn, President Alexander Lukashenko conveyed his greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and his best wishes for the UAE and its people for ongoing prosperity and success.
The meeting discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries and to push them toward broader horizons of effective partnership. The focus was also on cooperation and coordination in sectors of mutual interest, particularly in economic, investment, and developmental aspects.
Both sides exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues and developments. They emphasized the importance of establishing security and stability in the region and the world, and supporting peaceful solutions to conflicts, contributing to the development and prosperity of the peoples of the region and the entire world.
During the meeting, His Highness the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Belarusian President witnessed the signing of the “Trade in Services and Investment” agreement, which paves the way for a new phase of cooperation between the business sectors of both countries. This agreement will open wider horizons for service exports from the UAE to the Republic of Belarus, particularly focusing on the financial and consulting sectors, education, and healthcare. It also aims to enhance foreign direct investment flows and expand cooperation in developing joint investment projects that contribute to driving economic growth in both countries.
His Highness was accompanied during the meeting by Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State; Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade; Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary-General of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi and Head of the Crown Prince’s Office; Mariam Eid Al Mehairi, Head of the Abu Dhabi Media Office and Strategic Relations Advisor in the Crown Prince’s Court; and Ibrahim Salem Mohammed Al Mashreq, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus.
It is noteworthy that Belarus is a prominent trade partner of the UAE, with non-oil trade between the two countries reaching approximately 3.9 billion USD in 2024, an increase of more than five times compared to 2023, and over 47 times compared to 2021, when non-oil trade between the two sides was about 82.6 million USD.