UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum completed his two-day official visit to Moscow, the capital of the Russian Federation, on March 31, 2009.During the visit, UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on March 30, and with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on March 31. Vladimir Putin warmly greeted the ruler of Dubai and held official negotiations with him, during which both noted that the meeting with the Russian President on the eve was very successful.
"We are extremely pleased with your visit to Moscow and are absolutely sure that he will make an important contribution to the friendship and cooperation between our countries and our peoples," said Vladimir Putin. He also noted that relations between the two countries at the political, economic and commercial level are developing in a positive way, and added that both sides are striving to expand joint cooperation in the near future.
At the meeting, Vladimir Putin mentioned investment projects in both countries, in particular, in the field of tourism in the UAE, and added that the countries decided to develop business relations, especially in the private sector. In turn, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that "he enjoyed his visit to Russia and his friendly people," and added that "the relations between the two countries are of historical importance and great strategic importance."
"We believe that there are a large number of opportunities in order to increase the effectiveness of our bilateral cooperation in all areas," the ruler of Dubai said, emphasizing that negotiations with the President of Russia and other officials were fruitful and would soon have a positive impact on relations between the two countries and their peoples.
Taking this opportunity, the UAE Prime Minister invited Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to pay a return visit. The invitation was accepted, and the date of the return visit will be determined later. The meeting with the Russian Prime Minister was also attended by: the Deputy Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Maktum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Minister of the Interior, Lieutenant General Sheikh Safe bin Zayed Al-Nahyan; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and President of the Emirates Group Cabinet Minister Mohammed Abdullah Al-Gergawi; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash; Minister of State Rome Al-Hashimi; UAE Ambassador to the Russian Federation Omar Safe Gobash and a number of emirate businessmen. On the Russian side, government ministers and a number of senior officials attended the talks.
During this visit, the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, also visited Moscow’s Red Square and the large state department store GUM.
