Modi thanks Dubai Ruler for COVID care of Indian expats

Our Correspondent

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and the UAE government for the efforts of the country’s health authorities to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, protect the entire community, reduce the spread of the virus, and implement necessary procedures as well as to protect the Indian community and offer its members treatment services, which led to a significant decrease in infections among Indians and other communities.

Visiting Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar passed on the message from Modi thanking Sheikh Mohammed.

During their meeting on November 29, Sheikh Mohammed and Jaishankar discussed how to restore and stimulate the economies of the two countries and increase trade.

Sheikh Mohammed stressed that the UAE is keen to combat and contain COVID-19 and limit its negative effects on all sectors, most notably tourism, trade, commerce and health as well as ensure the gradual return to normalcy.

Jaishankar commended the measures adopted by the UAE to combat the pandemic, which has made it among the leading countries that contained the virus and harnessed financial and human resources to help other countries in need of aid, especially medical supplies.

The meeting was attended, apart from the UAE delegation, by Indian Ambassador Pavan Kapoor and Consul-General in Dubai Aman Puri.

Jaishankar hails Abraham Accords

In an interview given to Emirates News Agency (WAM) on November 26 in Abu Dhabi, Dr Jaishankar said that India and UAE have not realised the full potential in many areas of bilateral relations, adding that newly emerging domains – such as digital and health security – during and after COVID-19 will open up fresh opportunities for both countries.

He said India has re-imagined the energy relationship with the UAE in a more collaborative way now and not merely of a supplier-purchaser one.

Dr. Jaishankar also noted the Abraham Accords will help grow the UAE’s position as a logistics hub for the rest of Asian economies, and will benefit India also.

“At the same time, we have always been very supportive of the Palestinian cause. It is only those who have relations with Israel are in a position to go and tell them what we think that something you need to do. I think it will change many things,” he said while explaining how India and UAE’s relations with Israel will help the Palestinian cause.

The External Affairs Minister officially thanked the government for taking care of Indian expatriate population in the UAE, which is home to the largest Indian expatriate population in the world. “I came to the Gulf primarily to express to their leadership, especially that of the UAE, a very profound gratitude for the manner in which they have looked after the Indian community during the period.”

He expressed confidence that the new US administration under President-elect Joe Biden will continue the existing excellent ties with India because of structural linkages between the two countries and personal rapport between leaders.

He pointed out that Indo-US relations have gone steadily upwards in the last 20 years. Security interests, defence, economics, strong technology bonding, people-to-people connections and education are also a major bridge between India and the US, he said.