Riyadh, May 31, 2021, SPA -- Speaker of the Shura Council Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh held here today an official talks session with the Speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Saqr Ghubash, currently on an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. At the outset of the meeting, Al Al-Sheikh praised the depth of the brotherly relations and ties binding the leaderships and peoples of the two friendly countries, stressing the importance of exchanging bilateral visits to serve the common interests and strengthen the joint parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. For his part, Ghubash expressed happiness to have visited Saudi Arabia at an invitation of the Speaker of the Shura Council, stressing that the leadership and people of the UAE do share a high profile and position with the leadership and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During the meeting, ways to enhance the existing strategic cooperation relations between the Shura Council and the UAE Federal National Council were reviewed. Following the meeting, the Speaker of the Shura Council and the Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council signed an agreement, establishing the Parliamentary Friendship Association between the Shura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates. The agreement aims to support the bonds of friendship, understanding and cooperation between the two countries, strengthen the foundations of joint cooperation, document the frameworks of bilateral relations and exchange opinion and advice on parliamentary diplomacy at international and regional forums. The association is also concerned with exchanging bilateral parliamentary visits and information to support parliamentary coordination. Then, the Speaker of the Shura Council held a luncheon in honor of the Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council and his accompanying delegation. The events were attended by Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council Dr. Mishaal bin Fahm Al-Salami; Assistant Speaker of the Shura Council Dr. Hanan bint Abdulrahim Al-Ahmadi; Secretary General of the Shura Council Mohammed bin Dakhil Al-Mutairi; a number of the Shura Council members; and the accompanying delegation of the Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council. --SPA 19:36 LOCAL TIME 16:36 GMT 0025 www.spa.gov.sa/w1564570