Dubai, April 10 (NationPress) Expressing his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian government, and the citizens of India, Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stated on Thursday that both nations are establishing a benchmark for thriving global partnerships.

The Crown Prince of Dubai, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), returned earlier today from a fruitful two-day visit to India, marking his inaugural official visit to the nation.

"As I wrap up my visit to India, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with the government and people of India for their warm reception and generous hospitality. The UAE and India share civilizational bonds that have lasted for centuries. Today, we advance in a spirit of collaboration, working towards a brighter future that reflects our shared values and serves the mutual interests of our peoples," Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum shared on X Thursday evening.

"From Abu Dhabi to New Delhi, and Dubai to Mumbai, we are constructing enduring bridges of friendship and collaboration, driven by a shared ambition and a bold vision that transcends borders, establishing a benchmark for successful global partnerships," he added.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi hosted a working lunch for the Crown Prince at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence and extended his warm regards to the President of UAE, Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. PM Modi also conveyed his good wishes to the Crown Prince’s newborn daughter, Hind bint Hamdan, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

During their meeting, the Crown Prince of Dubai gifted Prime Minister Modi a replica of his grandfather Sheikh Rashid's 'bisht' - a traditional embroidered cloak worn by Arab men, symbolizing the historic and generational political friendship between the two nations.

Both leaders explored avenues to enhance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UAE, along with the strong cultural and people-to-people ties between India and Dubai.

"Pleased to meet HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai. Dubai has played a pivotal role in advancing the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This special visit reconfirms our deep-rooted bond and lays the groundwork for even stronger collaboration in the future," PM Modi shared on X post-meeting.

The Crown Prince also conferred with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing ways to bolster the strategic defence and security partnership between the two nations in line with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

"For India, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the UAE holds significant priority. In the upcoming years, we are keen to collaborate closely on defence cooperation, co-production, and co-development projects, as well as innovation and technology. Both India and the UAE are committed to working towards peace and prosperity in the region," Singh shared on X.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, during his meeting with the visiting dignitary, underscored the substantial deepening and expansion of relations across sectors between the two nations in recent times.

The Crown Prince presented an original newspaper coverage of his father, the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s successful efforts in rescuing passengers aboard Indian Airlines Flight 421 in August 1984.

Later, he also met Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal during a high-profile business meeting in Mumbai.

"They discussed the role of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in the rapid escalation of bilateral trade. Goyal welcomed the signing of significant MoUs and announcements made at the business event and expressed optimism that these will further enhance bilateral economic interactions and elevate them to unprecedented levels. Particularly, the advancements on the Virtual Trade Corridor (VTC) and its role in facilitating bilateral trade as well as being a foundational element of IMEEC were acknowledged," the MEA noted.