ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the UAE have agreed to “intensify consultations and coordination” to strengthen bilateral strategic partnership, a joint statement issued by the two countries said on Friday.

The statement comes at the culmination of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s two-day visit to the emirates. Sharif separately met Pakistani and Arab business delegations during his visit. On Thursday, the prime minister met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and on Friday, met the country’s prime minister, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. 

During the meeting between Sharif and Sheikh Al-Nayhan, the UAE president agreed to roll over $2 billion in existing debt to Pakistan and also announced an additional $1 billion for the South Asian country. 

“With a view to developing tangible and meaningful bilateral cooperation in key areas, the two countries agreed to intensify consultations and coordination in order to strengthen their strategic partnership,” the joint statement read. 

Sharif and the UAE president held detailed discussions and exchanged views on regional, political and security matters, the joint communique said. 

“They also discussed specific initiative to enhance cooperation in political, defense, economic, commercial and cultural areas, developing joint ventures, and strengthening collaboration in the human resource sector,” it added. 

The statement further said the two sides agreed to increase coordination designed to strengthen their strategic partnership and cooperation, particularly in the field of information and communication technologies and work together “for bridging the digital divide.”

“The two sides signed Memoranda of Understanding in the field of combating human trafficking, information exchange, and between the diplomatic academies of both countries,” it added. 

A day earlier, Sharif visited the Wahat Al Karama war memorial where he paid respect to the country’s heroes who laid down their lives for the UAE.