Mohamed bin Zayed meets Trump ahead of Saudi trip

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Mohamed bin Zayed shakes hands with President Donald Trump.

Washington - The two leaders discussed enhancing strategic bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues.

By AP, AFP

Published: Tue 16 May 2017, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Tue 16 May 2017, 4:53 PM

US President Donald Trump met His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, at the White House on Monday.
The president welcomed Sheikh Mohamed for their first face-to-face meeting since Trump took office. Sitting alongside one another in the Oval Office, Trump called Sheikh Mohamed a "very special person" who loves his country and loves the US.

Mohamed bin Zayed arrives at The White House, greeted by @POTUS, Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/NT00gjPFe8
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The two leaders discussed enhancing strategic bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues. Sheikh Mohamed's visit comes days before Trump travels to Saudi Arabia in the first leg of his four-country foreign trip.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, on Monday expressed hope the 'historic' summit to be held on Sunday will enhance ties and promote tolerance.
The summit will be one of three forums held during a visit by Trump, who is making Saudi Arabia his first overseas stop since assuming office in January.

Donald Trump: "Great honor to have Sheikh Mohammed with us today, a man I have known and highly respected, and who loves his country" pic.twitter.com/9dCCPjj1r7
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Along with the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), at least 18 other Muslim nations have been invited to the summit, including Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Niger and Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population. He said the US-GCC talks will contribute to consolidating Gulf solidarity and peace in the region.
King Salman told a cabinet meeting in the Red Sea city of Jeddah that the meeting "comes in light of the challenges and sensitive situations that the world is going through".
According to the official Saudi Press Agency, "he expressed his hope that this historic summit will establish a new partnership in the face of extremism and terrorism and spreading the values of tolerance and coexistence" while enhancing global security.