On Sunday, a meeting by the Federal National Council (FNC) with the Latin America and the Caribbean Group (Grulac) about trade issues ended with a bilateral agreement on their position against terrorism, The National reports. 

According to the publication, Grulac President Roberto Leon from Chile says that a mutual stance on terrorism has been concluded and that the UAE has the same stance against terrorism. Leon adds that "the Muslim world definitely does not call for terrorism."

FNC speaker Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi said that the meeting with Grulac shed some light on trade partnerships between the FNC and Grulac nations.

"Economic relations are growing, but not enough. The amount of exchange between the UAE and these countries is less than 1 per cent of both sides' GDP. Through agreement, investments will grow," Al Qubaisi explained as quoted by the publication. 

 

Mr. Leon, on the other hand, looks forward to the coming years and sees the results of the said meeting. Meanwhile, Al Qubaisi welcomed one of the ideas of one of Chile's representative vowing to raise the issue of excluding the UAE from its double taxation rules in the country.

Following FNC's meeting with Grulac is the council's parliamentary retreat to be held on Jan. 23 to Jan. 25. According to Gulf News, the retreat aims to strengthen and strategize the 16th legislative Chapter for 2015-2019.

Headed by Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, she said that the FNCs aim is to develop a strategy in order to provide a viable roadmap for their performance while maintaining their focus on management and parliamentary practices.

In 2005, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa launched a strategy based on political empowerment. This was cordially supported by its allies with the directive of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai. The said strategy will significantly touch the possible changes on legislative and regulatory level. Al Qubaisi said, "It also aims to promote political participation and achieve a broader community participation and the best channels of communication locally and internationally, so as to achieve sustainable development."

The FNC's retreat will also showcase its role on the national level, citing its role in giving a complete and balanced roadmap to parliamentary issues. Al Qubaisi expects that the said strategy will be able to influence all levels of legislative institutions -- locally, regionally or globally. She also concluded that such development will not stray away from what the UAE believes in, but rather, put its performance in line with the country's society.