UK minister for Middle East arrives in UAE

U.K. Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Rt. Hon Hugh Robertson MP, arrived in the United Arab Emirates this morning at the beginning of a visit to the Gulf region. During his visit, his first to the U.A.E. since joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office last October, Robertson will meet Ministers to discuss bilateral relations and regional affairs. Ahead of the visit, Mr. Robertson said, "I am delighted to be visiting the United Arab Emirates. Both our countries share a long standing history and I'm keen to see the strength of the relationship first hand. I will be discussing with our Emirati partners ways to further the strength of our friendship and co-operation." In 2010, the U.K. - U.A.E. Task Force was established to increase cooperation between the two countries in culture, education, defence and security, trade and investment, and foreign policy. Since then, the relationship has continued to go from strength to strength.