ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Wednesday met with a series of high-level Emirati and international officials on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in Dubai.

The premier, who arrived at the summit on Tuesday, telling reporters on site that that he sought to discuss the “views of the Kurdistan Region, especially during this sensitive period in the region” with other top officials in attendance.

Barzani on Wednesday met with the Emirati Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, discussing "the importance of further developing relations between the Kurdistan Region and the UAE, particularly in the fields of energy, natural resources, and technology," according to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

The day prior, he met with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, discussing strengthening bilateral ties and developments in Iraq and the region.

The prime minister also met with UNESCO chief Khaled El-Enany, with the latter outlining "the organization’s projects in protecting and rehabilitating historical sites, and referred to the renovation project of Erbil Citadel as a World Heritage Site."

The KRG and UNESCO have signed a $10-million dollar renovation agreement for the Kurdisy city's 6,000-year-old citadel, which UNESCO designated as a World Heritage Site in 2014.

“Through this partnership, which will be implemented over the next four years, UNESCO will lead the implementation of the project to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Erbil Citadel as a cultural, social, and economic hub, contributing to broader Sustainable Development Goals, including inclusive cities, decent work, and sustainable tourism,” UNESCO said in a statement at the time.

In his Wednesday meeting, Barzani "requested that the Kurdistan Region be admitted as an associate member of UNESCO," with Enany expressing "readiness to provide support and coordination in this regard," according to the KRG.

The premier also met with Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, with the pair discussing the formation of the next Iraqi cabinet, as well as the recent events in Syria.

Relations between Abu Dhabi and Erbil have seen major improvements during Masrour Barzani’s tenure.

In October, Barzani received an Emirati delegation in Erbil to discuss the expansion of bilateral cooperation and more than 30 Emirati initiatives "designed to bring UAE expertise to the Kurdistan Region."

A month prior, the Emirati government appointed Minister of State Saeed Mubarak Rashid al-Hajeri as the ministry’s Envoy for Special Affairs to the Kurdistan Region.

The World Governments Summit is a “global, non-profit organization dedicated to shaping the future of governments,” according to its website.

Barzani has taken part in several of the summit’s previous editions, contributing to boosting the KRG’s ties with the international community.