Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: Coming close on the heels of India’s successful presidency of G20 this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal to host the COP33 Summit in 2028 in India, has received a strong endorsement from Abdulnasser Alshaali the UAE Ambassador to India.
In an interview to news agency ANI, Alshaali expressed confidence in India’s organisational prowess, asserting that India is more than capable of managing this.
COP28, which stands for the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), took place in Dubai, UAE, from November 30 to December 12. PM Modi was among the global leaders who took part in the opening ceremony of the meeting.
“We had members from the COP28 team coming in and seeing how India managed the G20 meetings and summit because it’s a learning curve, and you get to see some other countries’ experience,” said Alshaali, adding, “If there is a country that could host it successfully, it would be India. I’m sure India is more than capable of managing this.”
Logistical challenges
The UAE envoy said that India possesses the capabilities to navigate the logistical challenges associated with hosting a major global event.
The interview touched upon the COP28 in Dubai, where Alshaali outlined significant achievements, including the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund with over $700 million in commitments. He highlighted India’s active participation in crucial declarations related to climate, such as climate health and climate finance.
Reflecting the collaboration between India and the UAE in addressing climate change, Alshaali characterised it as “strong and excellent.” He underscored the alignment of efforts between the G20 Summit and the COP28 presidency, showcasing the commitment of both nations to addressing climate issues collaboratively.
Bilateral relationship
“We wanted to make sure that whatever outcomes or results come out of the G20 Summit translate also into certain outcomes during the COP28 presidency because there are certain overlaps,” the UAE envoy added.
On the meeting between PM Modi and the UAE President during COP28, Alshaali said, “They discussed all sorts of topics among them, and most importantly, the COP28 presidency and climate action.” He also emphasised that such discussions contribute to the progression of the bilateral relationship.
On India’s invitation to the UAE President for the Gujarat Vibrant Summit, Alshaali confirmed the UAE’s participation, saying, “I can tell you that I will be there. The UAE is a partner of Vibrant Gujarat. I know that we will be represented at the highest level possible.”
