UAE and UK commit to partnership and friendship

The UAE and UK have expressed their commitment to further strengthen and develop joint partnership in defence, trade, economy, education, investment and climate change. A joint communique issued at the end of a two-day visit by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, to the UAE, said :''We have today celebrated the longstanding and deep friendship between the UK and UAE and agreed an ambitious plan to develop our cooperation still further. Our partnership is built on respect for each other's sovereignty. Both countries have evolved their systems of governance, over time, to reflect their respective traditions and aspirations for the future. We stand together to combat many of the threats to the security of the wider region. We are strongly committed to maintaining tolerant open, outward-looking societies. ''We are partners across the broadest range of areas. Over 100,000 British citizens live in the UAE.. British Nationals visiting the UAE make up one of the largest visitor groups. They appreciate the UAE's vibrant society and culture. Nearly two hundred thousand Emiratis visited the UK last year. We want to support and develop this interchange between our people. In the economic sphere, both the UAE and the UK have taken difficult decisions to ensure economic stability. Both have created environments in which investments thrive and both have invested significantly in each other's economies. ''We collaborate on our mutual defence interests, against external and domestic threats; we are political partners in international fora, where we cooperate together to support the peaceful resolution of conflict. Our partnership as governments is built on our partnership as peoples.