Abu Dhabi, May 7th, 2006 (WAM) - General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces has praised the UAE-German relations and pledged to boost them further.

Sheikh Mohammed made these remarks today when he received the visiting German Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, Michael Glos, and the accompanying delegation.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed hope that the strong ties between the two countries would be "further strengthened in the forthcoming future to serve our mutual interest".

"The leadership of the two countries are strongly in favour of promoting the existing level of cooperation to new heights," he said.

He said the UAE was keen on enhancing cooperation with Germany, describing it as "an industrially and technologically advanced country and a strong economy offering high potentials for bilateral cooperation in a wide spectrum of areas for the mutual benefit of the two friendly countries".

Sheikh Mohammed reviewed with his guest the progress of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional and international developments as well as issues of mutual concern For his part, the visiting Minister said the new German government was equally eager to consolidate its relations with the UAE in the various spheres, taking advantage of the distinguished ties between the two countries and the UAE's stature as a key player in the region's economic, business and tourism arenas.

Present at the meeting were Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Under Secretary for the Ministry of Finance and Industry and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works, Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Planning and Economy Department, ministers, senior government officials, and the German Ambassador to the UAE Jurgen Steltzer.