Discussed frameworks for cooperation between the two countries on COVID-19 LONDON: The UAE"s health minister Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad Al-Owais held a telephone call on Monday with his Israeli counterpart Yuli Edelstein during which they discussed cooperation in the fields of health and scientific research. They also discussed establishing partnerships in the pharmaceutical industry and medical research, as well as frameworks for cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Emirates News Agency reported. A statement from Israel"s Health Ministry added that they agreed on "initial and immediate cooperation" in the health sector. Future projects for scientific and medical partnership, especially in the field of vaccine trials and treatments for the coronavirus, were also discussed. "Due to the circumstances imposed by the pandemic, there must be concerted efforts in the field of medical research," said Al-Owais. He welcomed bilateral cooperation between the UAE and Israel in this area for the benefit of both countries and the global fight against the disease. UAE and Israel will appoint representatives and set up business delegations, the Israeli health ministry said, and the countries will also work to create a student exchange program as soon as pandemic conditions allow, it added. Israel and the UAE agreed to normalize diplomatic ties earlier this month and forge a new relationship under a US-brokeredd deal. The UAE became the third Arab country to have formal diplomatic ties with Israel after Egypt and Jordan. Since the deal, both nations have signed agreements on technologies to fight the coronavirus. Several small-scale medical and defense collaborations were also announced in the weeks preceding the normalization agreement.