The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today issued a joint statement at the conclusion of the state visit of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Following is the text of the statement: "Based on the deep historic and fraternal relations that unite the leaderships of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as their keenness to strengthen and develop strategic cooperation and economic, commercial and development integration, towards building a better future that achieves security, prosperity, comprehensive development and aspirations of the peoples of the two brotherly countries and based on the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, paid a state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 7-8, 2021. During the visit, a session of talks was held between His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz congratulated the UAE leadership, government and people on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the union, hailing the UAE civilized achievements in various fields, and wishing the UAE steady progress, prosperity, security and stability under its wise leadership. During the visit, the aspects of fraternal relations between the two brotherly countries as well as the achieved and continuous achievements of strategic cooperation and joint integration between them were reviewed. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen and develop relations to broader horizons in various fields. The two sides praised the distinguished level of cooperation in the political, security, military, economic and development fields and the cooperation and integration the two sides achieved under the umbrella of the Saudi-UAE Coordination Council, which was established under the generous directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), affirming their determination to strengthen and develop the council's role in the coming phase in all fields in order to serve their strategic interests and reflect the wise vision of the two leaderships which aimed at strengthening the bonds of brotherhood, cooperation and partnership between the two brotherly peoples. The two sides pointed out to the numerous economic potentials and distinguished opportunities for strengthening the strategic partnership and doubling joint investments, affirming the importance of highlighting the promising fields for investors in the two countries. In the field of energy, the two sides commended the close cooperation between them and the successful efforts of the OPEC+ countries group, which aimed at enhancing the stability of the global oil market. The two sides stressed the importance of a continuation of this cooperation and the necessity for all participating countries to adhere to the OPEC+ agreement. They also stressed the importance of exploring joint opportunities in the field of oil, gas and petrochemicals, as well as cooperation in the fields of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The two sides asserted the importance of strengthening cooperation in the field of trading oil products, taking advantage from electrical interconnection and commercial exchange of electrical energy, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, cybersecurity, industry and advanced technology. In the field of climate change, the two sides welcomed the strengthening of the existing cooperation on the implementation of the circular carbon economy approach launched by the Kingdom during its presidency of G20 and approved by the Group itself as an integrated and comprehensive framework to address the challenges arising from greenhouse gas emissions and their management through available and innovative technologies, as an approach it represents an economically sustainable way to manage emissions. The UAE side highlighted the comprehensiveness of the local, regional and global gains of the Middle East Green Initiative launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to confront the phenomenon of climate change. The leading role being played by UAE in climate action was also commended, the most important of which is to host the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in 2023, which will work to intensify international efforts to deal with the repercussions of climate change, and manage it through the latest technologies used in carbon separation and recycling, its use, recycling and storage, both geologically and through natural media for uptake within ecosystems. They also stressed the strengthening of cooperation in various fields such as health, tourism, food security and human development, especially in the youth and women's empowerment sectors. His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense congratulated the UAE for its successful hosting of Expo 2020 Dubai. For his part, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces affirmed the United Arab Emirates' supporting of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to host Expo 2030. The two sides emphasized the contents of Al-Ula Declaration issued on January 5, 2021, which stipulated the full and accurate implementation of the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, which was approved by the Supreme Council at its 36th session in December 2015 according to a specific timetable and careful follow-up, including completing the elements of economic unity and the joint defense and security systems, coordinating positions in a way that enhances the solidarity and stability of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and promotes their regional role through unifying political positions, developing political partnerships with the international community, regional and international organizations, strength and cohesion of the GCC states and unity among its members. The two sides also reviewed developments and issues of concern to the two countries on the regional and international arenas, and stressed the coordination of their positions to serve their interests and support and enhance security and stability in the region and the world. In this regard, the two sides affirm their full support for all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost of which is their right to establish an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative, the relevant Security Council resolutions, the references of the Madrid Conference and other agreed international references, in a way that achieves the aspirations of the fraternally Palestinian people. Regarding Yemeni issue, the two sides affirmed the convergence of their views on continuing their efforts to find a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis in accordance with the terms of reference represented in the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanism, the outcomes of the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, Security Council Resolution 2216 and the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to end the Yemeni crisis in a manner that preserves Yemen, its unity and integrity, respect for its sovereignty and independence, and rejection of any interference in its internal affairs. They also stressed the need to complete the implementation of Riyadh Agreement and condemned the continued targeting airports, objects and vital installations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the terrorist Houthi militia. On the Lebanese issue, the two sides stressed the need to carry out comprehensive political and economic reforms to ensure that Lebanon can overcome its crises, limit arms to the legitimate state institutions, and that Lebanon will not be a starting point for any terrorist acts and a hub for organizations and groups that target the security and stability of the region such as the terrorist Hezbollah or to be a source of drug scourge that threatens the safety of societies in the region and the world. The two sides welcomed the success of the electoral process in Iraq, and express their wishes for the formation of an Iraqi government that will continue to work for the security, stability and development of Iraq by eliminating terrorism and stopping foreign interference in its internal affairs. The two sides welcomed the understandings reached by the parties to the transitional phase in Sudan, and affirmed their continued support for everything that would achieve security and stability in Sudan, and their wishes to Sudan and its fraternal people for stability and prosperity. They also stressed the importance of dealing seriously and effectively with Iran's nuclear and missile file with all its components and its repercussions in a way that contributes to achieving regional and international security and stability, emphasizing the principles of good neighborliness and respect for UN resolutions and international legitimacy, and sparing the region from all destabilizing activities and interventions, and they demand in this regard the concerned parties taking into account the interests, security and stability of the countries of the region. The two sides also affirm that a political solution is the sole solution to the Syrian crisis, and in this regard they support the efforts of the United Nations and its Special Envoy to implement the relevant international resolutions, foremost of which is Security Council Resolution No. 2254, and to stop regional interventions and schemes that threaten the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, and affirmed their support by the side of the Syrian people and the need to support the international humanitarian community in Syria. Concerning Afghanistan; the two sides stressed the need to support security and stability in Afghanistan and not allow to be safe havens for terrorists and extremists. The two sides denounced any acts aimed at recruiting Afghan refugees in the various conflict areas. The two sides expressed the importance of supporting relief efforts and humanitarian work in Afghanistan. In this regard, the UAE side valued the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's call for an extraordinary ministerial meeting of the OIC member states.
