Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates reaffirmed their strategic partnership to "maintain each other's peace and security" and "maintain territorial integrity."

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the two countries also expressed their commitment to "addressing challenges that threaten regional stability."

The ministries issued the joint statement on Tuesday, December 28, 2018, following the working visit of Sheikh Shakhbut bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, to Ethiopia.

The Abu Dhabi Minister of State met with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Dr. Gideon Timothy and "exchanged views" on the "common interests" of the two countries in "regional peace and security," it was reported.

The joint statement issued in the evening also addressed this issue of peace and security. "Both sides reaffirmed their comprehensive and strategic partnership to support and promote each other's peace and security, territorial integrity, and economic interests," the statement said.

In the statement, which stated that "both sides expressed their commitment to bringing stability and establishing lasting peace," the issue of Sudan's civil war was raised in particular.