The UAE and France will celebrate the Emirates’ 50th anniversary with a series of activities and events in 2021, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday.
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces issued a statement with Mr Macron off the back of Sheikh Mohamed’s visit to the capital Paris this week.
They said the French-Emirati Season 2021 would feature a collection of activities in both countries to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the formation of the UAE.
The two also agreed to continue deepening bilateral ties through art, culture and investments, particularly at a time when the region is witnessing increased instability, reported state news agency, Wam.
Sheikh Mohamed is just back in the UAE from an official two-day visit to Paris, on the invitation of Mr Macron.
During his visit the two had lunch where they discussed ways to increase reciprocal investment.
Sheikh Mohamed said the two country’s support values of tolerance, promote dialogue, interaction and coexistence among peoples, civilisations and cultures, reject intolerance and hatred, and work for peace, stability and development in the Middle East and the world.
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At the end of the visit they issued a joint statement saying they will further facilitate cultural exchange between the two countries to promote cultural dialogue and reinforce values of tolerance.
In February, the two countries launched the Emirati-French Cultural Dialogue. The six-month initiative includes a series of themed concerts, workshops and festivals that aim to encourage cultural exchange between the UAE and France.
The Dialogue launched at Louvre Abu Dhabi in the presence of Mr Philippe, Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, and Zaki Nusseibeh, Minister of State.
The relationship between France and the UAE was reinforced in 2012 following the establishment of a strategic dialogue framework to ensure technical follow-up of the major projects through high-level consultation
While at first co-operation between France and the UAE had been limited to hydrocarbons and security, it now involves cultural and academic co-operation, the installation of permanent French military bases in Abu Dhabi, and joint projects in the area of renewable energy.
With €3.6 billion (Dh15.1bn) in French exports to the Emirates, the UAE is now France’s second-largest export destination in the Gulf. More than 600 French companies are currently working in the UAE.