World leaders in Abu Dhabi to offer condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa

World leaders continue to flock to Abu Dhabi to pay their respects to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, President of the United Arab Emirates, on the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed.

Yesterday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed met with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, while he was scheduled to meet later yesterday with the Israeli President and the King of Spain, and to meet with US Vice President Kamala Harris and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken today.

Macron offered his condolences to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, before they held a closed session of talks. The Elysee Palace said in a statement that Macron expressed, during his meeting with Sheikh Mohammed, his “sincere condolences to his family and the Emirati people” on the death of Sheikh Khalifa.

“The UAE is a strategic partner of France, a fact confirmed by the degree of our cooperation in areas as diverse as defense, culture and education,” the statement added.

For his part, British Prime Minister Johnson offered his condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa and his congratulations on Sheikh Mohammed’s assumption of the presidency, an official told AFP. Queen Elizabeth also sent congratulations to Sheikh Mohammed on his new position.

Likewise, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed received in Abu Dhabi yesterday, condolences from Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa, and from the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter praising the new president’s “vital and visionary leadership”.

In turn, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent his congratulations to Sheikh Mohammed, pledging to “deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership” between the two countries.
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