According to the Emirates News Agency, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a series of separate meetings in New York with his counterparts from several countries participating in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The discussions reviewed ways to push forward bilateral cooperation and partnerships across diverse fields while touching on agenda items before the world body. Participants examined opportunities in economic collaboration, trade, investment, culture, education, health, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, food security, renewable energy and climate action.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Cho Hyun, foreign minister of South Korea, Juraj Blanár, foreign minister of Slovakia, and Constantinos Kombos, foreign minister of Cyprus, among others including Gustav Aitaro of Palau, Manuel Tovar Rivera of Costa Rica, Glauk Konjufca of Kosovo, Anita Anand of Canada, Carlos Espá of Peru, Francisco Pérez Mackenna of Chile, Héctor Francisco Huanca Gutiérrez of Bolivia and Paulo Rangel of Portugal. The WAM report noted that the talks also covered efforts to bolster multilateral action, support international peace and security, and strengthen global cooperation in confronting common challenges. Each session sought to align on practical steps that could translate shared interests into tangible outcomes for all sides.
The UAE foreign minister additionally sat down with US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, where the conversation centered on aspects of the strategic relationship between the UAE and the United States as well as current regional and international developments. This exchange allowed both sides to convey their assessments of the situation in the broader Middle East and explore avenues for continued coordination. The meeting reflects the breadth of diplomatic contacts maintained by the UAE beyond traditional government-to-government channels.
The gatherings occurred as the 81st session of the UN General Assembly convened world leaders to focus on sustainable development and collective responses to global crises, according to official UN documentation. A UAE delegation arrived at the assembly with priorities that include conflict resolution, UN reform, artificial intelligence governance, climate action and sustainable water solutions, The National reported. Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab told the newspaper that the UAE would push for strengthened multilateral institutions capable of addressing contemporary challenges.
Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, minister of state for international cooperation, joined the meetings together with Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, minister of industry and advanced technology and UAE special envoy for climate change. Also in attendance were Lana Nusseibeh, Saeed Al Hajeri, Yousef Al Otaiba, Omran Sharaf, Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti and Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab, the UAE’s permanent representative to the United Nations. Their presence ensured that discussions spanned the full spectrum of diplomatic, economic, technological and environmental issues.
Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh described the UAE’s overall message at the assembly as one of optimism and resilience rooted in a recommitment to diplomacy and multilateralism, The National reported. She called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan and a return to civilian rule in the country, stressing that inaction would not resolve the conflict. The high-level engagements on September 22 formed part of a broader effort to advance these objectives through direct conversations with international partners.
