Mohammed bin Rashid receives New Zealand PM

Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, yesterday received John Key, the visiting Prime Minister of New Zealand, along with his accompanying delegation.

H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed and Key exchanged views on a number of joint dossiers, especially focusing on bilateral relations and methods to enhance them in a number of fields, particularly in tourism, air transport and trade exchanges between the UAE and New Zealand.

Sheikh Mohammed emphasised the strong relations at the official and popular levels between the two countries. He noted that the UAE's leadership and government's approach is aimed at extending human and cultural bridges between its people and peoples across the world, as well as expanding its economic, trade and tourism ties for the benefit of international stability and peace.

He also promised to accept the Prime Minister of New Zealand's invitation to visit Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, at the appropriate time.

During their meeting, Key praised the level of cooperation and friendly ties between the two countries. He also said he hoped his visit would have positive results for both countries, noting the role played by the Emirates to build and boost communication bridges, in light of launching 28 weekly flights between Dubai and Wellington.

New Zealand's Prime Minister also pointed out that his country seeks to participate in Dubai Expo 2020, saying he hoped the participating New Zealand companies would benefit from involvement in the international event, which brings together the world under its umbrella and opens investment, economic and trade partnerships, as well as the enhancement of tourism sectors for participating countries.

He further added that Dubai Expo 2020 would contribute to bolstering cultural cooperation and human convergence among peoples and countries.

Among those who attended the meeting were H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water and head of the honorary mission, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State, Mohammed Ibrahim AI Shaibani, Director-General of His Highness the Ruler's Court, Government of Dubai, Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director- General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai, and Jeremy Clarke-Watson, New Zealand Ambassador to the UAE.