ABU DHABI, UAE – The UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has said that the Gulf country is determined to forge a world where prosperity is commonplace.
He said that by laying the groundwork for heightened international cooperation through multilateral fora such as the G20, the UAE will work towards a world where human progress is an inalienable right for all.
In an article published by the Indian Express daily, Sheikh Abdullah said, “The United Arab Emirates has long viewed the G20 as a forum that plays a critical role in multilateral efforts. With its focus on global financial issues, the G20’s members include major developed and developing economies that account for 85 percent of global GDP, 75 percent of trade, and nearly 66 percent of the world’s population.”
“As such, the G20 has the ability to reshape decision-making for the greater international good, and the UAE has been a reliable participant in the G20 framework to confront shared international challenges while encouraging a balanced, sustainable, and comprehensive global economic recovery,” the UAE minister said.
Sheikh Abdullah said that through the G20 process the UAE believes that dialogue and diplomacy are the most successful options for building trust and addressing crises.
Wherever possible, the UAE will continue to support global peace and stability. He added that the supporting India’s presidency of the G20 is a key priority for the UAE.
He said, “Supporting the Indian presidency of the G20 is a key priority for the UAE, a message I conveyed during my recent visit to New Delhi to meet with India’s Minister for External Affairs, S Jaishankar. I was heartened to learn of India’s vision for the G20 presidency, including its ambitions to strengthen women’s empowerment; achieve bold progress in health, agriculture, and education; mobilize financing for climate change mitigation and global food security; bolster the fight against financial crime, and reform multilateral institutions to become more inclusive.”
Sheikh Abdullah said that for UAE multilateral institutions becoming more inclusive is a priority as the country has worked tirelessly to amplify the voices of small and underrepresented countries in the G20.
The UAE’s foreign policy seeks to support partners around the world and ensure that diverse perspectives are heard on critical issues.
The minister said that he has attended the 2022 G20 Heads of State and Government Summit in a high-level UAE delegation led by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The summit was held in Bali on November 15-16. The summit brought out a powerful declaration in which countries affirmed that in line with the Indonesian G20 Presidency theme — Recover Together, Recover Stronger — the international community will take coordinated action to advance an agenda for a strong, inclusive and resilient global recovery.
Sheikh Abdullah said, “Through its participation in the G20 process as a guest country of Indonesia, particularly following its successful experience as a guest of Saudi Arabia in 2020, the UAE has remained committed to strengthening economic cooperation, serving as a reliable and responsible energy supplier, and ensuring the stability of global energy markets. Moreover, through the G20’s Sherpa and Finance Tracks, the UAE has doubled down on its pioneering agenda in the clean energy sector and ambitious initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.”
The minister said that the UAE will host COP28 in November 2023 and added that it has leveraged its participation in the G20 process to mobilize international action.
Sheikh Abdullah said, “At the same time, we must not lose focus of other issues, especially those exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as global health and food security. There is no economic growth, prosperity, or progress without adequate health and medical care for all. The UAE, as a regional and global economic hub, continues to exert significant effort to ensure the sustainability of food and medicine supply chains through its foreign trade, ports, aviation, and advanced logistics facilities.”
The minister said that UAE has been an active provider of humanitarian, food, medical and shelter assistance to countries and added that the world must address the roots of conflict in order to prevent the outbreak of further violence.
Sheikh Abdullah said, “Over the next year, the world can choose to collaborate to improve economic growth, political stability and human security. By laying the groundwork for heightened international cooperation and enhanced engagement with the private sector through multilateral fora such as the G20, the UAE and its partners are determined to forge a better world — one where prosperity is commonplace and human progress is an inalienable right for all.”