MOSCOW, March 7. /TASS/. Russia’s presidential envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reiterated their countries’ commitment to closer trade and energy cooperation, the Russian foreign ministry said after their meeting in Abu Dhabi.

"The sides reiterated Moscow and Abu Dhabi’s commitment to maintaining regular and trust-based political dialogue, developing mutually beneficial economic, trade, energy, investment, cultural and humanitarian cooperation," it said.

"While discussing international and regional issues of mutual interest, the sides noted that the two countries share the principled position that there is no alternative to the peaceful settlement of numerous conflicts and crisis situations in the Middle East and North Africa in accordance with the fundamental provisions of the United Nations Charter," it added.