President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday had a telephone conversation with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and said his country would be eager to enhance collaboration in the coming period to advance the interests of both nations and fulfil the aspirations of their peoples.

Prof Yunus extended an invitation to the UAE President to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time.

The UAE is one of the largest trade partners of Bangladesh in the Arab world.

Many Bangladeshi businessmen use their ports to export goods to East African nations.

The UAE President congratulated the Chief Adviser on his assumption of the leadership of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, said the press wing of the Chief Adviser.

During the telephone conversation, Sheikh Mohamed expressed his hope that Chief Adviser Professor Yunus and the Interim Government would bring prosperity to Bangladesh.

Prof Yunus thanked the UAE president for the greetings.

He praised his visionary leadership, which has turned the Gulf Arab nation into one of the most prosperous nations on earth.

The Chief Adviser said the UAE has been a very good friend of Bangladesh for decades, and millions of people have found work in the Gulf Arab country, making it a key source of remittance for the South Asian nation.

Prof Yunus said that the UAE has stood by the Bangladesh people during major natural disasters, and it has been a generous host of one of the largest Bangladeshi diasporas of businessmen, skilled and unskilled workers.

The two leaders exchanged views on issues of bilateral interest, including manpower employment, enhanced investment, and trade.