Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces received the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove, at Qasr Al Bahr this evening.

Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Sir Peter Cosgrove and praised the great advances in the relationships between the UAE and Australia over the past 40 years.

He referred to the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to strengthen ties of friendship and co-operation with countries enjoying an impressive record in foreign policy, including Australia.

The Governor General offered his condolences to Sheikh Mohamed on the national heroes, 1st Corporal Juma Jawhar Juma Al Hammadi, 1st Corporal Khalid Mohammed Abdullah Al Shehhi and 1st Corporal Fahim Saeed Ahmed Al Habsi, who were martyred while performing their national duty as part of the UAE forces in ‘Operation Restoring Hope', to support the people of Yemen.

He also hailed the growing co-operation between the UAE and Australia, who mark 40th anniversary of the exchange of notes establishing diplomatic relations.

The two sides reviewed the progress of bilateral co-operation in political, economic and investment fields and ways to enhance the special relations between the two countries.

They also exchanged views on regional developments and issues of mutual interest, including efforts to combat terrorism and violence in co-ordination with the international community and the need to support humanitarian efforts in a number of the region's countries.

Present during the meeting were H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan, Obaid Al Hairi Salem Al Ketbi, UAE Ambassador to Australia, and Pablo Kang, Australian Ambassador to the UAE.