Secretary of State Mike Pompeo participates in A virtual US-UAE Strategic Dialogue
Transcript
Good evening to those in Abu Dhabi and good morning to those in Washington, D. C. Welcome to the virtual launch of the U. S. U. A. E strategic dialogue and the signing of the of Understanding. We’re pleased to be joined by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates His Excellency Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Judy Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates His Excellency Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Body Minister of State for defense Affairs of the United Arab Emirates His Excellency Dr Anwar Bin Mohammed Gargash Minister of State for foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States of America The Honorable Michael are Pompeo, Secretary of State of the United States of America. The Honorable Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Commerce of the United States The Honorable John Ricotta, Junior ambassador of the United States of America through the United Arab Emirates. Our program will begin with brief remarks from Secretary Pompeo Minister Bin Zayed, Secretary Ross and Minister of State Al Zaidi. This will be followed by the signing of the U. S. You a strategic dialogue memorandum of understanding. And now please allow me to invite Secretary Pompeo to deliver his remarks. Thank you, Tim. Good morning, everyone. Good evening. Welcome to this launch of the first inaugural us. You a strategic Dalla? It’s a historic day, an important day. And it’s a great pleasure to be joined by my friends. Your Highness. My friend Jake Abdullah bin Zayed had your Excellencies Ministers Iady or Awadi Gargash and Ambassador Otaiba Wilbur John. Secretary Ross. Ambassador Ricotta. It’s great to be with you too. Thanks for joining us. I regret so much that we can’t be here in person, doing this alongside of each other one day before too long. We’ll do that during the Trump administration. The United States and the United Arab Emirates relationship has grown deeper broader that at any point before, I think having this dialogue is evidence of that check. Abdullah, We last saw each other at the White House. The signing ceremony, the Abraham accords with Israel. It was a brave step that will create more opportunities for peace, prosperity and stability in the Middle East and all around the world in your meeting with President Trump that day, you describe the you A as a nation full of hope that wants to attract more hope to the region so beautiful. Today’s MOU will build on those hopes in eight key areas of partnership. Politics, defense, law enforcement and border security, intelligence and counterterrorism, human rights, economics, cultural culture and academics and space. I am confident that the United States and the U. S. Strategic partners across every one of these dimensions will grow in the years to come. The Trump administration prioritizes this relationship so highly because our two peoples have demonstrated how much we can accomplish together that just talk but action. We’ve worked alongside one another towards peace in many countries in the Middle East. The two is the top investor here in America, and you’re our number one export destination in the Middle East is well. We both value the protection of religious freedoms and cooperate on human rights. Objectives like ending human trafficking and empowering women to reach their God given potential. Helped to see more of that in the future from the entire region. We, of course, remain engaged on a number of regional issues, including healing the rifts among Arab called partners and advancing the cause of peace in Libya and in Yemen. And we stand together on the international stage to counter the greatest destructive force in the Middle East Iranian regime. I wanna personally thank the way for its support of our maximum pressure campaign, which is denied Tehran access to weapons valued at more than $70 billion. We’re grateful to where you help to hold the regime accountable of the United Nations by working with us, the US showing that you want to you and to do its job to hold uphold peace and security in your region. Look, in short, you is an increasingly important global partner with United States. The world will see that again next year with Expo 2020 and Dubai, which had to be delayed just a bit for all those reasons, for all those reasons and more, this is one of America’s most valued relationships and all of us here in the Trump administration look forward to discussing all this in person in Abu Dhabi soon as a follow on to this launch today, we’ll continue to work on today’s challenges including those presented by Iran and new challenges like those presented by the Chinese Communist Party’s malign influence, which threatens the region’s people and freedom around the world. Let’s keep up our good work through the Expo through 2021 as the celebrates 50 years of independence. With that, I’m happy and honored to turn it over to Sheikh Abdullah. Thank you for being with me today. Thank you, Mr Secretary. I now have the pleasure to invite His Highness, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed to deliver his remarks. Dear friend and Secretary Pompeo, I’m honored to be here witnessing another historical day that joins us together. The you in the United States as you mentioned no in person that virtually and it it is a challenge, no doubt with Cove it but it it just shows how determined both of us. Both the government and the American administration are working together and have been working together for so many years. You mentioned that the way will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. But we’ll also be celebrating our 50th anniversary off relationship between these two nations. No, too long. I was honored to be at the White House lawn celebrating the Abrahamic accord. Today we see another important milestone and the relationship between the EU and Israel. And frankly, if it wasn’t for the assistance off the Trump Administration, your personal effort, dear Secretary and your team who have been so committed and working towards broader relationship with the U. S. A. But also abroad the relationship with the region to bring in the region hope, peace and prosperity. 19 years ago, dear Secretary, we decided the way to join the efforts off the off the United States and going after terror which occurred on 9 11. That’s not enough. The voices off extremism radicalism is still gaining momentum. We saw that recently in Paris, and we have to double down our efforts together in overcoming these extreme radical voices. There is no doubt in my mind that your administration and many countries around the world are willing and capable. We have to make sure that our effort succeeds Dear Secretary almost a decade ago, the A signed with the United States. You want to three agreement which was considered then a gold standard. That gold standard is a blessing. Today we look at the nuclear concern of all of us in Iran, and we believe that that nuclear gold standard should be applied on Iran as well. Yeah, I hope that such a gold standards will remind us that this could be another moment of a gold standard off a relationship between the U. A. Andi, the United States. I’m sure that the efforts off Ambassador Coulter, Dr Gosh, and use of like, cable and many more in the United States and buoy who’ve been very much working in an in a joint friendly spirit for a stronger you a relationship with the United States. We would like to see more jobs created in the United States. We’re proud that we provide over 120,000 jobs without investments in the United States. The way is the largest export destination in the Middle East for the United States. And I’m sure with less barriers between us and more efforts and more, more good work, we can achieve much more. So thank you, Secretary. And please convey my gratitude to your administration and your team in D. C. Thank you, Your Highness. Please allow me to invite Secretary Ross to deliver his remarks. Thank you, Timothy. with that introduction. Thank you also to my neighbor ambassador. A culture for organizing this event. My thanks to Secretary Pompeo. We are incredible leadership on last month’s peace agreements in the Mideast. The Abraham accords have transformed Middle East dynamics and provided so many people with hope. Thank you for hosting today’s discussion. A warm welcome also to His Excellency’s Abdullah bin Zayed head and Dr Tani Bin Ahmed. So you the who join us this morning? I’m pleased. Today we can discuss expanding the commercial ties between our two nations. This dialogue is critical as we rise from the global co vid 19 challenges facing both of our nation. We are two of the most innovative and advanced economies in the world in the is our third largest trading partner in the MENA region with more than 24 billion in two way trade in 2019. US. Foreign direct investment in U. A. E was 27.6 billion last year, up 2.7 billion since 2016. An Emirati FBI enter the United States increased from 13.7 billion in 2016. 17.1 billion last year. Well, the current covet crisis is still affecting the global trade system. I encouraged by your nation’s efforts to diversify your economy. The government’s recent reorganization enables you to become more agile and to prepare for expansion into advanced manufacturing, renewable energy in commercial space course providing innovative solutions to food security. The US work in improving its intellectual property rights environment. It’s also reassuring. Unfortunately, your countries, in its third year of appearing on the U. S. T. R s Special 301 report watch list for not providing adequate and effective protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. However, your recent passage of the new Pharmaceutical I P regulation is a leap in the right direction, and it could make you a the best and safest place in the Middle East to bring innovative pharmaceutical and biotech investment in technology. My department is eager tohave the U S patent and trade office provide you with any technical assistance you might need. It further resigned your I P R practices and my department’s International Trade Administration is looking forward to our upcoming data privacy technical workshops with the A in December. U. S companies have expressed concern about data localization efforts in the U. S. A. Cannot be overstated that adopting a data privacy framework based upon existing global models invest practices is critical economic recovery and advancement. During the workshops, there will be discussions on data flow regulations and a potential regional data framework. And in March last next year, I t. A global markets team will host a two day infrastructure roadshow in Abu Dhabi. First days Infrastructure conference will enable you and regional government officials to present to an audience of U. S. Companies and officials their upcoming major project Such a smart cities, energy and infrastructure and highlight how US companies can get mawr involved. The second day is Infrastructure Summit. We’ll bring you A E and US government officials together to discuss how they can strategically support increased participation of you A companies, um E infrastructure project. These engagements will also offer great opportunities to engage on multiple advocacy cases across the Gulf within I t. A. The advocacy center is currently assisting US companies with 42 procurement. Crace is in the A cumulative total project value. Of these, approximate $10 billion with 8.1 billion of US content. Principal industries covered our aerospace and Defense, Safety and Security and Energy since 2016. The advocacy group as recorded seven project wins in the U. A. E. With a total value of $2.3 billion. I encourage all of you here today to participate in both of these infrastructure events next spring. I also hope to welcome a delegation from us once more to the 2021 Select Yusa Investment Summit taking place June 6th to the ninth 2021 here in Washington. This event provides a unique opportunity for Emirati business executives to meet with economic development organizations from across the United States. Finally, I commend the U. S. A. Hosting and organizing the upcoming World Expo in Dubai. How are U. S Commercial Service will engage the U. S. Business community, the exposed US pavilion, and we’ll join you to celebrate the Expos conclusion in March 2022 by bringing our flagship trade Winds team missing with over 100 U. S. Companies to the A to explore export and trade up ability. Meanwhile, U s mission there is ready and willing to assist you in any ways we can. Before I closed on. Pleased to announce that the Department of Commerce is working to conclude to M o of understanding with Emirati government agencies. One will be on exchanging best practices for promoting foreign direct invest, and the other will be on promoting innovation. An entrepreneurship these M O use will support the broader goals, the strategic dialogue and specifically address the focus areas of the economic Econ Energy and Commercial Partnerships subcommittee. Furthermore, we will announce soon. I was second digital attache who will cover digital trade issues and will be based in the A. I look forward to today’s discussion and to deepening our nation’s close relationship in the years to come. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Secretary, I now have the pleasure to invite Minister of State Al Zaidi to deliver his remarks. Thank you so much. Good morning. Good afternoon, everyone. It’s really an honor to be with my esteemed colleagues. Three from the start of the U. S. You know your strategic dialogue. Let me as well thank you kind of have a swell as discussed booth as well as the ambassador on the table. Uh, because that’s what they’re going support. As you all know, the world is facing very challenging times, which makes today’s that off great importance for the continued success for bilateral relationship. Let me offer a few thoughts about the economic country, the relationship some of the key areas that I think we can grow in the coming here for 11 years Degree has bean the top U S. Exports of stranger in the Middle East. In 2019 US enjoyed 15.7 billion instead of trade surplus with the way the U. S third largest trade surplus globally, the street lead to growth for U. S businesses on supported 1000 167,000 American jobs. Uh, no, they can’t understand in the U. S. Direct investments in areas such as technology, infrastructure, healthcare, renewable energy and chemicals. What’s up? DVD? Our economic cooperation. They used divers on expanding innovative based economy. Also created more collaboration, drives the economy prosperity. A Swede ask cultivates business processes. Of course, it sees the dog comes at the moment creates uncertainty in which, with respect to the bottom, both public health nobody called We must be realistic in the face off the current global economic downturn. Projection for the economic contraction Well of course, and after the trade volume, fear on for homelessness here as well. But during this challenging time, the economy remains resilient with farsighted leadership, financial resources and global Indio let you know how we owe a difficult conditions on the, uh, a bilateral economic relationship would overcome the shock off the panda can continue to try that way. Are already seeing this in the way that the U. S. On the great partners have responded to the crisis and innovative ways. For example, the reason why there are its subsidiary strata my doctor, and collaborated with anyone to develop and 95 muscles partnership. So to address the globally for personal protection equipment that many governments on organization have struggled with since the beginning of covered 19 outbreak, we’re here in the Ministry of Economy. A leadership, a finding new areas takes one trade investment all around the world, especially with the US. That’s why wait together to engage with way global economy with no partner is more important than the United States are. We know there is a much to explore. Let me just highlight on the first day they should respect for the 2019 special 3 301 report Do we have made significant progress in regards to the patent protection, destruction off counterfeit goods on creation off collective management society? We do have that the recent shared draft off the reaction plan with the U. S side can act as a firm races for constructive discussion between both sides. I can assure you that there is a high level result within the governments to be removed from the U. S. T. R. 301 special report on that actual property rights watch list. Given the current economy challenges facing the world today, it’s even more crucial that we use the state of work through others and ensure clear pathway to grow on much well prosperity between our two countries. Unconfident together with further strengthened over economy partnership help three The global start on recovery. Thank you, Mr Minister and now Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Dr Anwar Gargash, an ambassador of the United States of America to the United Arab Emirates genre. Colt a junior will sign an exchange. The memorandum of understanding this memorandum of understanding memorializes that we’re establishing a strategic dialogue between the United Arab Emirates and the United States as a forum for open, productive engagement and cooperation. This initiative recognizes the enduring partnership and common vision that we share for a secure, stable and prosperous Middle East With the establishment of the strategic dialogue, we acknowledge the benefits of regular and robust engagement to exchange views and deepen our cooperation on areas of mutual interest. Thank you Secretary Pompeo Minister bin Zayed Secretary Ross, Minister of State Algae Eudy Minister of State Alba Waddy, Minister of State Guard Gosh Ambassador Coal tha an Ambassador Otaiba This concludes the virtual launch of the U. S. U. A e strategic dialogue. Thank you everyone for joining.