Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, held talks with Armin Laschet, the leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union. Also taking part in the online meeting were <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/environment/minister-coronavirus-jolted-people-into-thinking-about-food-security-1.1125764">Mariam Al Mheiri</a>, Minister of State for Food Security and the Ambassador to Germany, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/government/german-president-accredits-new-emirati-envoy-at-bellevue-palace-1.1031923">Hafsa Al Ulama</a>. They discussed co-operation in a number of areas including industry, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, clean energy, climate change and hydrogen, state news agency Wam reported. Dr Al Jaber is also the UAE’s climate envoy, chairman of Abu Dhabi clean energy company Masdar and group chief executive of state oil producer Adnoc. The CDU was led by Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel until 2018. Mr Laschet, the premier of the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia – Germany's most populous – was <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/angela-merkel-ally-armin-laschet-wins-race-to-lead-germany-s-largest-party-1.1147123">chosen to lead the party last month</a>. The CDU chairman traditionally leads the party and its CSU Bavarian sister party to the polls, meaning Mr Laschet is in pole position to become Germany’s next chancellor.