Dubai: Prime Minister of the UAE has hailed the close relationship between India and the gulf country saying that the social and trade ties between the two nations have become stronger now.
"Since the early 1950s, the UAE, and Dubai in particular, have been working on the promotion of these good relations with India," said Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the ruler of Dubai and Vice-President of the UAE.
"As a result, social and trade ties have flourished to become stronger now, thanks to Dubai`s geographical location and its busy port which is close to India," he added.
The ruler of Dubai made these remarks in a foreword to the Arabic edition of the book `India and the UAE: In Celebration of a Legendary Friendship` by diplomat Venu Rajamony.
Shaikh Mohammed also wrote that good political relations can be built based on common interests, mutual respect and constructive cooperation, according to UAE`s official news agency Wam.
He emphasised the role of traders from both countries who he said have played a significant role in building trade, social and cultural bridges between the two peoples.
"These developments have placed India at the top of industrial and trade exchange with the UAE, in addition to non-oil sectors," Shaikh Mohammed said.
In another foreword to the book, UAE`s minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development pointed out that UAE is now India`s largest trade partner in the Gulf region.
India`s exports to the UAE account for six per cent of the subcontinent`s total exports to the world, while 70 per cent of its total exports go through the UAE," said Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.
He further added that relations have been reinforced by the large Indian community which lives peacefully and contributes to economic development in the UAE.
The author Rajamony served as consul-general of India in Dubai from 2007 to 2010.
PTI
