Representing His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, participated in the Supreme Economic Council meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union, which was held yesterday at the Independence Palace in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
The meeting brought together leaders and heads of government from member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, chaired by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, with the participation of the United Arab Emirates as a guest of honor, along with representatives from invited countries such as Uzbekistan, Cuba, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, Zimbabwe, and Myanmar.
Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed delivered the UAE’s speech during the summit, conveying greetings from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the leaders attending the summit and expressing hopes for its success and prosperity for the union’s member states and their peoples.
He expressed gratitude to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for the warm hospitality and for inviting the UAE to participate in the summit hosted by Belarus.
Sheikh Khalid emphasized the UAE’s commitment to strengthening friendly relations with the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union and advancing them toward new horizons of mutual economic growth and prosperity, which would serve shared interests and create more trade and investment opportunities for both sides.
The meeting was attended by leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. Representatives from observer states, including Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, were also present, along with representatives from other invited countries.
Sheikh Khalid and the leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union witnessed the signing ceremony of the economic partnership agreement between the UAE and the union, which aims to facilitate trade and open new avenues for cooperation in key sectors such as renewable energy, logistics, and construction services.
The agreement marks an important milestone in the relationship between the UAE and the Eurasian Economic Union and is expected to further boost bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
The UAE aims through this agreement to enhance cooperation between businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs in the UAE and the union, reinforcing strong economic ties and reflecting the deep friendship and constructive cooperation between the UAE and the union’s member states.
The agreement is expected to strengthen private sector collaboration, enhance supply chains, and enable entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises to expand their global operations. Bilateral non-oil trade between the UAE and the Eurasian Economic Union grew significantly by 27 percent in 2024, reaching USD 29 billion, while total trade volume increased more than fourfold compared to 2021.
The economic partnership agreement was signed by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Mher Grigoryan, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia; Natalia Petkevich, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus; Serik Zhуманжарин, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan; Daniyar Amangheldiyev, First Deputy Chairman of the Government of Kyrgyzstan; Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia; and Bakyt Sultemuratov, Head of the Eurasian Economic Commission.
Prior to the summit, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed held official talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the Independence Palace in Minsk.
President Lukashenko welcomed the visit of the Crown Prince and his delegation, highlighting the strong bilateral ties between Belarus and the UAE.
He reiterated Belarus’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with the UAE across various sectors for the mutual benefit of both nations and peoples.
Sheikh Khalid conveyed greetings from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to President Lukashenko and expressed wishes for the continued prosperity and development of Belarus and its people, thanking the Belarusian side for the warm hospitality.
In turn, President Lukashenko conveyed greetings to the UAE President and expressed hopes for the continued prosperity of the UAE and its people.
During the talks, both sides discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations and deepen effective partnerships through cooperation in areas of mutual interest, particularly in economic, investment, and development sectors.
They also exchanged views on regional and international developments and the importance of promoting peace, stability, and peaceful conflict resolution to support development and prosperity for people around the world.
The Crown Prince and President Lukashenko also witnessed the signing of an agreement on “Trade in Services and Investment,” which opens new opportunities for cooperation between the business communities of both countries, particularly in financial and consulting services, education, and healthcare. It also aims to increase foreign direct investment flows and expand joint investment projects that contribute to economic growth in both nations.
At the end of the visit, Sheikh Khalid expressed appreciation for the warm reception and hospitality extended by the Belarusian side, wishing continued progress and prosperity for Belarus and its people.