ABU DHABI: The standing economic, industrial, energy and investment and trade relations between the emirate of Abu Dhabi and Germany were at the center of talks between senior officials of Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development - ADCED and a German delegation led by visiting German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.

In remarks during the meeting, Nasser Ahmed Al-Suwaidi reiterated the emirate's interest in promoting relations with Germany to economic strategic partnership.

For his part, Westerwelle said such meetings provide an opportunity to gauge the development of political, economic and investment relations with the UAE.

Non-oil trade between Abu Dhabi and Germany between January and October 2011 stood at US$ 6.8 billion.

Seven hundred German companies are operating in the UAE along with 418 commercial agencies and 4868 German trademark.

WAM/MMYS