New Delhi, Sep 3: United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on Thursday that his country attaches highest importance to comprehensive strategic partnership with India.

Sheikh Abdullah, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, discussed opportunities of bilateral cooperation, including joint research and development in the frontier areas of science and technology.

According to a PMO release, UAE investments in setting up manufacturing industry in India and strengthening cooperation in third countries were also discussed during the meeting.

Sheikh Abdullah reiterated UAE\'s commitment to expeditiously implement the \"substantive outcomes\" emerging from the prime minister\'s visit to UAE in July in a broad range of areas, including trade and investment, defence, security, energy, space, renewable energy, science and technology, tourism and people-to-people contacts.

\"The foreign minister of UAE conveyed that they attached highest importance to comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries,\" the release said.

Modi recalled his \"highly successful\" visit to the UAE and that it has chartered a new course in bilateral relations between the two countries which will also contribute to peace and prosperity in Asia and beyond.

\"Prime minister expressed deep appreciated for the vision of the UAE\'s leadership in transforming the country by harnessing the possibilities of human spirit, innovation and science,\" the release said.

\"The prime minister appreciated the vibrant and multicultural society in UAE that has also embraced and protected interest of 2.6 million Indians in the country,\" it added.

Modi said Sheikh Abdullah\'s follow-up visit reflected the new-found vibrancy in the bilateral relationship, and expressed deep satisfaction that concrete steps were being taken to implement the decisions taken during his visit.

He reiterated his invitation to the crown prince of Abu Dhabi to visit India at an early date.

Sheikh Abdullah, who arrived earlier in the day, attended the 11th session of the India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting for Technical and Economical Cooperation along with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

\'UAE attaches highest importance to strategic partnership with India\'