HANOI — Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, minister of Climate Change and Environment, headed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) delegation to Hanoi, Vietnam to participate in the 3rd Indian Ocean Conference held under the theme “Strengthening Regional Relations.”

The two-day conference drew the participation of representatives of 43 participating countries and 28 ministers and served as a global platform for countries to exchange their experiences and discuss the economic and strategic importance of the Indian Ocean region.

This year’s conference focused on strengthening strategic international cooperation and developing governance mechanisms.

In his keynote speech, Al Zeyoudi said: “Being at the center of the world, the Indian Ocean is set to become one of the world’s most strategic bodies of water, driving global economic growth and prosperity. The rising energy demand in the Indian Ocean region has resulted in increased energy supplies from the Gulf region to Asia through Indian Ocean shipping routes.

“More broadly, exports from Asian economies are expected to rise from 17 percent in 2010 to 28 percent in 2030, further indicating the economic vitality of the region. Hence, the importance of collaboration and cooperation among countries in the Indian Ocean is clear to us in the UAE,” he added.

The UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment highlighted some of the important work that the UAE has been conducting to enhance regional stability and cooperation.