PANAMA CITY: H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has said that the UAE's bilateral relationship with Panama has grown from strength to strength in recent years, and the two states have become regular dialogue partners, being like-minded on pressing global issues, and multilateral cooperation.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah made the remarks, to be published by La Estrella de Panama newspaper, on the occasion of his official visit to Panama.

Below is the full text of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan's comments in full: "The UAE sees Panama as a friend, and a country that shares similar interests to our own. From the necessity to fight Daesh, to the need for open and free trade, I believe that relations between our two countries are moving towards an exciting new era.

My visit to Panama this week highlights the important political and economic links that underpin the UAE's bilateral relationship with Panama, which have grown from strength to strength over the last years.

Today, our bilateral relations are multi-faceted and growing rapidly. We are regular dialogue partners and are like-minded on pressing global issues, and multilateral cooperation. I look forward to discussing ways in which we could bolster our cooperation with President Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez and Vice President and Foreign Minister Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado.

During my visit, I will also seek ways to increase dialogue and engagement between the UAE and Panama on economic issues, including between our businesspeople.

Both our countries are important trade hubs in our respective regions, and current trade exchanges between our countries have the potential to expand significantly. Both the UAE and Panama perform key roles as worldwide export and re-export centres and large free zones. There is a clear opportunity for our governments and businesses to work closely together to share best practices in this critical sector.

With the recent conclusion of the historic Paris Agreement, now more than ever, we also see environmental protection and climate change as an area where our two countries may cooperate.

A central player in the global hydrocarbon economy, the UAE has simultaneously emerged as one of the world's leading investors in renewable energy, with pioneering projects both at home and abroad. We have committed US$ 840 million in renewable energy aid for developing countries. We are a major investor in a number of international commercial renewable energy projects. And we are the proud host country of the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA.

The UAE is honoured to call itself a friend of Panama. Our friendship has developed rapidly over recent years, and I hope we will continue to build on the momentum for the benefit of both our countries and our regions."