ABU DHABI, 1st June, 2015 (WAM) - Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan received on Monday Latvian Foreign Minister, Edgars Rinkevics, who is currently on a visit to the UAE.

The meeting discussed ways to boost ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, issues of mutual interest and latest regional and international developments.

Sheikh Abdullah welcomed the Latvian Foreign Minister and expressed the hope that relations between the two countries would develop further.

"Our relationship goes back to 1995 and it's been growing steadily but in the last few years it been growing far more rapidly. I am very honoured that Latvia decided to open a mission, an Embassy, in the UAE that has been highly welcomed by our government," Sheikh Abdullah said.

He added, "I would also like to express my gratitude to Your Excellency and all you colleagues in the EU and the Schengen group in approving a visa waiver for the UAE citizens. I think this shows your interest and your determination in having a rapidly growing relationship with the UAE. I am sure that will further encourage not only tourism but trade and investment between the UAE and the Schengen group."

Sheikh Abdullah said he was delighted with the talks he held with Edgars Rinkevics today.

"We had a chance of following up on the GCC/EU talks back in Doha, but we also managed to express key challenges facing this region especially when it comes to eradicating terrorism. But not only fighting terrorism but going literally behind their thinking and after their thinking and trying to find the appropriate ways of ending such a challenge. Obviously, the fight against terrorism in not only a fight that few have to face; the international community has been facing terrorism. This is going to be challenge for all of us for many years to come. But as long as we are united and we look at such a challenge from a broad perspective, I am sure that by our determination, we will be victorious."

Sheikh Abdullah went on to say, "I would like to once again welcome you and your delegation and I am very honoured that you are coming to the UAE with a large business group that I believe represents a vast range of business entities in Latvia. The UAE is a main logistic hub for the region and I hope we are capable of providing you and your businessmen not only an opening to the UAE but also an opening to the region.

"And obviously, I could not miss thanking the minister for coming here with a large cultural group who will be performing this evening and I apologized to the minister that I will not be able to attend today but I am sure it is going to be a wonderful evening."

Edgars Rinkevics made a statement in which he said: "Thank you very much Your Highness and let me thank you for the great hospitality that my delegation and I, as well as the business delegation, have enjoyed here. This is a great opportunity to discuss our political relations, as we discussed last March when you were visiting Riga.

"We opened the embassy here as well as the office of the agency of investment and development in Dubai, so we are now well represented in the United Arab Emirates.

"I am also very much looking forward to expanding our cooperation in economy. We have been taking a keen interest in our business community in promoting and developing our relationship in the tourism sector, food processing, construction, health and IT sector."

The Latvian Foreign Minister said the two business forums organised during his visit - one in Abu Dhabi today, and one tomorrow in Dubai - will also contribute in promoting the two countries' economic relations.

"I am also very glad that I am one of the first officials travelling on visa waiver programme. And I am particularly glad to have our presidency in the EU finalizing this process and now citizens of UAE and EU can travel. And I think that is a very good input to promote tourism and economic ties between the EU and Latvia (as part of the EU) and the UAE.

"I also think that we have to continue the development of the legal base of our cooperation and we are very much looking forward to work on economic cooperation investment agreement with you and I do hope that we will be able to sign them very soon," he stated.

Edgars Rinkevics said he was hoping to see a UAE embassy opened in Riga soon.

"I do express my invitation to you, Your Highness, to open an embassy in the region in Riga. I think that, of course, is a decision that is pending, but I believe that would in the future promote our political, economic and cultural ties. And, of course, thank you for your insights and a very good discussion on the challenges we all face (such as) the fight against terrorism, ISIS, Daish. I am very much looking forward to continue our cooperation with you and really hope that our political dialogue will continue and so will our meetings."

In March 2014, Sheikh Abdullah visited Latvia and met with President Andris Berzins and Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma, and in March 2013, a Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations was signed between the foreign ministries of the two countries.