New Delhi, Jul 10 (IANS): Visiting UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during which the two sides agreed to build on growing strategic ties as well as further their trilateral cooperation initiatives, especially in Africa.

Sheikh Abdullah, who is on a three day visit from July 7, also conveyed felicitations of the UAE leadership on the resounding victory of Prime Minister Modi in the elections. He extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit the UAE.

Prime Minister Modi conveyed his thanks to the President of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for conferring on him the prestigious Order of Zayed, which he said he was proud to receive in behalf of 1.3 billion Indians. Both leaders expressed happiness at the current state of bilateral relationsA and discussed regional issues, a MEA statement said.

They also agreed to build on these growing strategic links as well as further their trilateral cooperation initiatives, especially in Africa.

In December last year, the two countries had signed a Memorandum of Understanding for development cooperation in Africa.

On Monday, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who hosted a dinner in his honour.

In talks between Jaishankar and Sheikh Abdullah, bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest were discussed.

The visit of the Foreign Minister of the UAE provided an opportunity to the two sides to constructively build on the vision of the comprehensive strategic partnership and to broaden the cooperation in various sectors of bilateral cooperation, the statement said.