President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday attended a ceremony to mark the 41st National Day of the United Arab Emirates here. The ceremony started with the playing of national anthems of both the countries followed by cutting of cake by President Asif Ali Zardari and UAE's Ambassador Eisa Abdullah.
A large number of people, including politicians and diplomats, attended the reception hosted by the UAE Ambassador. Federal Minister for Water and Power Ahmed Mukhtiar, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Amad Malik, Chief of Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, President of Pakistan Muslim League-Zia Ejazul Haq and President of Azad Kashmir and former Prime Minister Barrister Sultan Ahmed also attended the reception.
A documentary film was also shown at the reception about the UAE's assistance to Pakistan in various sectors, especially after the 2005 earthquake and floods. Emirati artistes sung their country's traditional songs. A press release by the spokesperson to President Senator Farhatullah Babar quoted President Asif Ali Zardari as saying that Pakistan and UAE enjoyed a very close and cordial relationship. "Relations between the two countries are deep rooted and bounded by common faith and cultural affinities."
The President said that over the past five years, the bilateral ties had grown from strength to strength in all spheres of co-operation. The President said regular exchanges of bilateral visits remained the hallmark of close ties between the two countries, adding that the UAE was Pakistan's largest trading partner in the Middle East with a bilateral trade of over $7 billion.
Appreciating the UAE's assistance during natural disasters, the president stated that he was pleased to be at the celebrations of the National Day of the brotherly country. According to the presidential spokesperson, the President extended his best wishes and heartiest felicitations to Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the President of the UAE.
Congratulating the people of the UAE, the President said: "We greatly admire the wise and visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan."
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