03 October 2016 —Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr. met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan at the sidelines of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, and agreed to explore ways to deepen bilateral relations through the establishment of a joint committee on cooperation.
The joint committee would serve as a platform to expand cooperation in the areas of protection of investments with special focus on agriculture and tourism, extradition and consular affairs, economic and cultural relations, people-to-people exchanges and high-level visits. The committee could also facilitate the early conclusion of a proposed agreement for the waiver of visas for official and diplomatic passport holders.
Secretary Yasay reiterated the invitation for Minister Al Nahyan to visit the Philippines. An avid scuba diver, Minister Al Nahyan expressed interest in the Philippines' famous dive spots. He also said that should Secretary Yasay and President Rodrigo Duterte decide to visit his country, they would be warmly received in the U.A.E. END