Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and S. Jaishankar, Indian Minister of External Affairs, chaired the 13th UAE-India Joint Committee on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation through video conference on August 17.

During the conference, both India and the UAE agreed to strengthen their bilateral ties in existing sectors including trade, economy, and technology and explore other new areas for enhanced cooperation.

Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a press statement, stating that the UAE has expressed its willingness to further boosting links between the two countries in areas of food security and energy, appreciating the significant contributions made by Indian expatriate community to the Emirates. Furthermore, India has invited the UAE to further invest in key sectors of the Indian economy such as defence, renewable energy, and infrastructure including highways, airports, logistics, food parks, and ports.

Speaking at the conference, Jaishankar praised the wide-ranging discussions between India and the UAE as a step towards establishing strong bilateral ties between the two strategic partners.

Taking to Twitter, the Indian Foreign Affairs Minister said: "Reviewed the continuing growth of our broad-based cooperation. Their content and expanse are a testimony to our new era of relations. Encouraged by our close collaboration in dealing with health, trade and travel challenges due to COVID-19. Discussed major regional and international developments. Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership grows by the day.

Adding to his remarks, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Pavan Kapoor, also tweeted that the meeting was proof of bilateral engagement between the two countries to further growth despite COVID-19 restrictions.

Both leaders also shared views related to a joint strategy to offset the economic and social repercussions of the Coronavirus pandemic in both countries.

"Both the ministers noted with satisfaction the progress on institutional mechanisms which continue to guide and promote multifaceted bilateral cooperation through an extensive framework of agreements. They discussed the regional issues pertaining to their neighbourhood and cooperation at the United Nations among others," India said in its statement.

Jaishankar reiterated India's welcome to the peace treaty between the UAE and Israel, stressing that both countries are major strategic partners of India.

Beginning his remarks, UAE Minister Sheikh Abdullah extended sincere condolences to the Indian Government and citizens for the unfortunate loss of lives in the tragic Air India Express plane crash earlier this month.

"On behalf of the UAE Government and people, I would also like to express the deepest solidarity with the grieved families of the victims who passed away because of the recent flooding and COVID-19 infections in India, wishing all those infected a speedy recovery. May our two friendly nations remain prosperous, safe, and healthy," he said, according to a report by state news agency WAM.

Sheikh Abdullah further highlighted the strong ties between the friendly nations saying that the UAE sees a friend and a strategic partner in India that supports the UAE in its efforts to establish pillars of peace and security at regional and international levels.

"The two countries coordinate and exchange views on the most prominent geopolitical issues and developments in the region and the world, all of which are on the basis of mutual understanding and trust and an appreciation of the expected repercussions on political and economic interests for both sides," the minister added.

Furthermore, he underlines that the strategic relations between the UAE and India have once again proven their superiority to face theCOVID-19 crisis and its socio-economic implications. In the past few months, both sides have shown exceptional cooperation on key sectors including civil aviation, food security, energy, and health.

"Indeed, this cooperation is an example to follow between partners at the regional and global levels. In this context, I would like to commend the exceptional flights that have been organised to secure the safe return of the citizens of the two countries, in addition to the continued smooth flow of food commodities and medical supplies between the two sides. I would like to also commend the fruitful cooperation between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and the Indian side in the field of securing energy supplies," Sheikh Abdullah further stated.

Sheikh Abdullah also noted the significance of the ‘UAE-India High-Level Task Force on Investments' through which both sides aim to strengthen cooperation to increase mutual investments in the sectors of food security, healthcare, education, pharmaceutical industry, and technology. They also look forward to identifying various opportunities for investing in third countries and to discuss cooperation in fields that attract investments in areas of civil aviation, tourism, and international cooperation.

Meanwhile, the next session of the India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi in 2021.