WAM Abu Dhabi, Jun 09th, 2012 (WAM)--UAE Foreign Trade Minister Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi has met at the sideline of Arab-Australian Business Forum and Exhibition in Sydney, a number of Australian officials.

She held meetings with Prime Minister of New South Wales Barry Farrell and his Deputy PM and Minister of Trade and Investment of New South Wales Andrew Stoner. The two meeting tackled ways to bolster the bilateral relations in the areas of trade and investments.

The two Australian officials stressed the importance of UAE's private and public sectors participation in the event to introduce the UAE's development plans to the Australian government, adding that the participation will create more new cooperation opportunities in different sectors.

The two sides emphasised the importance of striking a free trade agreement between the GCC and Australia to push forward the trade ties.

Sheikha Lubna also met Australian Regional Development Minister Simon Crean. They discussed ways to enhance the trade cooperation between the two sides. They also exchanged views on the latest on the World Trade Organisation talks and positions of both sides. They also tackled the latest about the free trade agreement talks between the GCC and Australia.

The UAE minister met Australian Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Minister Hon Greg Combet. They discussed the latest about the renewable energy and topic of the next Earth Summit in Brazil.

WAM/MN