By Xinhua
Abu Dhabi : Visiting U.S. President George W. Bush held talks on Sunday afternoon with his counterpart of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on bilateral relations and latest developments in the region, the official Emirates News Agency said.
During the meeting, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed willingness to bolster economic partnership with the United States, said the report.
Bush stressed the significance of UAE-U.S. relations in all fields and particularly the fields of economy, politics and defense.
“The U.S. administration is looking forward to further boosting and expanding joint cooperation and coordination,” Bush said.
The two leaders also discussed latest developments of the Middle East peace process and issues pertinent to maintaining security and stability in the Gulf region, situation in Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan and other topics about the fight against terrorism.
“The UAE is a partner in the anti-terror campaign and will exert whatever efforts possible to achieve stability and development in the region and the world as well”, Sheikh Khalifa said.
Bush, who arrived in Abu Dhabi Sunday morning after winding up a visit in Bahrain, is the first sitting U.S. President who visits the UAE.
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said ahead of Bush’s arrival that the visit will “open up new avenues of cooperation between the two countries.”
Bush is on a four-nation tour of the oil-rich Gulf Arab allies of the United States, which has taken him to Kuwait and Bahrain and will also bring him to Saudi Arabia, in a bid to seek Arab support for his Middle East policy.
Before Kuwait, Bush has wrapped up his landmark visit to Israe land the Palestinian territories, the first time since he took office in 2000, trying to advance peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in the wake of the U.S.-hosted Annapolis peace conference last November.