In remarks during a meeting here yesterday with Renaud Dutreil, French Minister for Small Businesses, Gen Shaikh Mohammed underlined the commitment of the two countries to further broaden the scope of bilateral cooperation.

Gen Shaikh Mohammed cited the construction of a branch for the renowned Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi and the opening of a Sorbonne University branch,as two glaring examples showing the depth of French-UAE ties.

The meeting also discussed ways of creating a conducive climate for the growth of small and medium scale enterprises.

"As spelt out by the President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the  vision of Abu Dhabi embraces a strong growth, not only for large scale businesses but also for small and medium-sized businesses. In the end, the ultimate goal is to create a partnership between various sectors," said  Gen Shaikh Mohammed.