Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces on June 24 held a telephonic call with King Philippe of Belgium and assessed various prospects of cooperation between the Emirates and Belgium. As reported by the state news agency WAM, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and King Philippe further discussed ongoing regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Amid the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the two world leaders shared views of cooperation and international efforts in battling the health crisis. The two sides went on to review various countermeasures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

During their conversation, Sheikh Mohamed and King Philippe laid emphasis on the need for scientific researches that will facilitate productive medical treatments and vaccination for the novel Coronavirus. They also stressed the importance of supporting international institutions across the world in a bid to enhance cooperation and coordination among these bodies. With international cooperation and joint efforts, the aim of combating COVID-19 pandemic can be achieved with more effectiveness.

The UAE and Belgium have shared years of bilateral ties with strengthened trade relations and support.

So far, the UAE has reported over 46,000 Coronavirus infected cases, out of whom more than 34,000 people have recovered from the disease. Belgium, on the other hand, has reported over 60,000 virus-infected cases, out of whom more than 16,700 people have recovered. More than 9,700 people have lost their lives to the disease in Belgium.