ISLAMABAD, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani have warmly felicitated Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan on his re-election as the President of the United Arab Emirates, the official APP news agency reported Wednesday.

    The president and the prime minister in their separate messages extended warm felicitations to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan. They expressed the hope that under the able leadership of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the deep-rooted, close friendly and brotherly relations between Pakistan and UAE will gain further strength.

    Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan was re-elected as the President of the United Arab Emirates for a second five-year term on Tuesday, the UAE official news agency WAM announced.

    Pakistan and the UAE enjoy extremely close and fraternal relations, founded on deep-rooted cultural affinities, shared faith and traditions, as also geographic proximity and identity of interests, said the APP report.

    The relations date back to the UAE's formation in 1971, and have since evolved into wide-ranging cooperation in various fields, it said.

    The two countries have common perceptions on all international and regional issues of mutual concern. Frequent exchanges of high-level visits and regular bilateral consultations between the two countries are reflective of the close friendly relations, APP said.