(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, received the foreign ministers of several Pacific countries on Thursday, who were visiting the UAE to attend the international meeting for Expo Dubai 2020 participants.

Sheikh Abdullah met with Rimbink Pato, Foreign Minister of Papua New Guinea, Baron Waqa, Foreign Minister of Nauru, Taukelina Finikaso, Foreign Minister of Tuvalu, and Milner Tozaka, Foreign Minister of the Solomon Islands.

He also signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Waqa on the exemption of entry visa requirements between their two countries.

A similar agreement was signed by Sheikh Abdullah and Tozaka.

Sheikh Abdullah welcomed the ministers and expressed the UAE's desire to further its ties with the Pacific countries in various fields, especially in the economy, investments and renewable energy.

He added that the UAE's relations with the Pacific countries are witnessing remarkable progress.

The visiting foreign ministers praised the efforts of Sheikh Abdullah to strengthen the ties between the UAE and their respective countries.

They also expressed their desire to strengthen their co-operation with the UAE while praising it for supporting development projects in the Pacific countries, including renewable energy programmes.

Sheikh Abdullah also attended the signing of the Expo Dubai 2020 participation contracts for both Tuvalu and Solomon Islands.

The contracts were signed by Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Managing Director of the Dubai World Expo 2020 Bid Committee, and Finikaso and Tozaka respectively.

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