Belgrade: Aleksandar Vucic, President of the Republic of Serbia, met with Dr. Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs and astronaut, along with the accompanying UAE delegation, in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. During the meeting, President Vucic emphasized the importance of strengthening partnership and cooperation in areas of mutual interest, in line with the strong relations and longstanding ties between the two nations, noting that these objectives support the two countries' shared development aspirations by investing in people and building the future.
According to Emirates News Agency, Al Neyadi conveyed to the Serbian President greetings from President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, along with their sincere wishes for continued progress and prosperity for Serbia and its people. For his part, President Vucic returned the greetings to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other UAE dignitaries, expressing his wishes for the continued progress and prosperity of the UAE.
The meeting took place during Al Neyadi's visit to Serbia with his accompanying delegation, in the presence of Ahmed Hatem Almenhali, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in the fields of youth, education, scientific research, technology, and space science. The meeting also explored opportunities for developing joint initiatives and enhancing inter-institutional coordination to support the two countries' shared aspirations for sustainable development, driven by knowledge and innovation.
Emirati astronauts Hazzaa AlMansoori, Astronauts Office Manager at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), and Mohammad AlMulla also joined the delegation. They provided an overview of the UAE's latest national space projects and programmes, outlining the UAE's efforts to develop national talents, reinforcing its advanced position in this vital sector and creating broader opportunities for cooperation and the exchange of expertise with its Serbian counterparts.
Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi highlighted the UAE's commitment to building constructive international partnerships founded on mutual trust and the exchange of knowledge. He emphasized that international cooperation is a fundamental pillar for accelerating development and empowering people to shape a prosperous future and create new opportunities. Al Neyadi also held meetings with Serbian government ministers, exploring opportunities to strengthen cooperation in the fields of youth, education, scientific research, and innovation.
During his visit, Al Neyadi toured the Petnica Science Centre and delivered a lecture highlighting the UAE's achievements in the space sector. He emphasized the importance of investment in science and technology as key drivers of the knowledge economy, equipping the youth with the skills needed to shape the future. The visit also included tours of several youth and scientific institutions and discussions on potential cooperation and expertise exchange.
