PH, UAE sign deals on energy, AI

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. returned to the Philippines Wednesday from his «short but highly productive visit» to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), bringing home several agreements aimed at strengthening the bilateral ties between the two nations.

The plane carrying the president and his delegation landed at 10 a.m. at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.

In his arrival statement, Marcos expressed optimism about the successful implementation of the agreements with the UAE in the Philippines.

3/6 PH, UAE vow to deepen economic, trade cooperation President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan committed on Tuesday to deepening cooperation in various areas, including economy, trade and sustainability. Photos courtesy of PCO

«I look forward to the implementation of several bilateral agreements in culture, energy transition, legal cooperation, artificial intelligence and digital economy, the improvement of government activities, visa waiver for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports, and investment cooperation,» he said.

Marcos said he met with UAE President Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and expressed his gratitude to the UAE's care and respect for the Filipino community there.

The UAE president commended the Filipino people for their contributions toward UAE's development.

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«I thanked Sheikh Al Nahyan for understanding that my visit had to be cut short, given the need to attend to relief and reconstruction activities in communities devastated by successive typhoons,» Marcos said.

«I also conveyed appreciation for the UAE Government's constant humanitarian support for victims of these natural calamities,» he added.

Marcos said he also invited the UAE president to visit the Philippines «to continue our dialogue and to explore further areas of cooperation.»

«We did this as we commemorate 50 years of very strong and friendly and rapidly progressing bilateral ties between our two countries,» he said.

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'Regional stability'

Meanwhile, the PCO said that Marcos discussed with UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed