HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that hosting the Expo 2020 Dubai is a big step on the path of goodness, prosperity and prosperity for mankind.

Speaking at a ceremony held in Matera, Italy, on the occasion of the one-year countdown to the start of the international event, His Highness said that Expo 2020 Dubai is a gathering of humanity on the basis of love, peace and coexistence, stressing that “our knowledge, history, heritage and even our beliefs are different. "It is in itself an enrichment of our unity."

His Highness added: “The flag has moved from Milan to us, which gives us a great responsibility in the UAE to present what is new, and to move further than the above, as well as to ensure the organization of (Expo) the character of the Arab East and the UAE.” We say in Arabic: (Hayyam) ».

UAE Golden Jubilee

His Highness continued: «Expo 2020 Dubai corresponds to the celebration of my country UAE Golden Jubilee, where the convergence of its leaders to unite the word, and walk in one way towards one destiny, based on openness to the world, and accept the difference with a broad welcome, and the strength of joint work, and love of the other ».

His Highness added: «50 years of development, openness, partnership and enlightenment .. 50 years of commitment to multilateral action in support of peace, stability and development .. 50 years until the UAE has become a destination and a global center under which races and races and houses of worship, and even ethics, values ​​and ideals, and today It is only one year since the whole of the UAE has become a great lap for the whole world. ”

Geographic advantage

His Highness explained that the importance of this exhibition lies in the fact that it is the first of its kind ever, in the Middle East and the Arab world, Africa and South Asia, and the first time in a Muslim country.

His Highness continued: “If we put this geographical advantage, which carries with it cultures and civilizations, history and potential in such an important platform for international cooperation, the output must be unique and influential in the process of human creativity and joint action, supported by our legacy in the UAE The ability to gather the word, partnership at the level of people, politics and culture, but also trade and business. ”

A model of coexistence

His Highness said: "It was natural that the historic visit by the Pope Francis, the Pope of the Catholic Church, to the UAE in February, occupies a special place in the quest for unity of the word, and to build bridges of communication between different religions and cultures."

He added: “We have made sure that the UAE is a model of human coexistence and brotherhood, and a meeting point for civilizations.” His Holiness the Pope and Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, signed on the land of the UAE during that visit a document of human brotherhood, which is considered The most important documents of peace in the modern era ».

Transcending sensitivities

His Highness continued: «192 countries, so far, confirmed their participation in (Expo 2020 Dubai), and we have sought to bring everyone», pointing out that «the ability to overcome sensitivities and transcendence of problems, and linking countries and nations with the region in this way is unprecedented, "Our optimism about our region does not end, despite everything we see and what we see around us."

His Highness pointed out that one of the positive things that is happening in our region, that stability, prosperity and joint work has become the dream of all, and their first desire, which makes optimism the dominant feature in our endeavor.

His Highness stressed: «hosting (Expo) is just another embodiment of this endeavor, and a big step on the path of good and prosperity and the prosperity of mankind».

Respect for difference

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan continued: `` In the context of seeking to ensure respect for difference and respect for the identity of the other, we have made sure that each country has its own wing, to have the opportunity to fully reflect its identity without integrating it with regional identities that may obscure each other, Expo, which was held in your country in Milan in 2015, that the countries should not be grouped in the exhibition by geography, but according to the interests and priorities of each country ».

“We have seen this idea come to fruition, and we have seen very creative and innovative ideas for our sub-themes by all participating countries, and there have been contributions from all countries to provide creative perceptions of their plans for their participation.”

"This is an opportunity for the world, an opportunity for us humans," he said.

Spirit of tolerance

His Highness praised the presentation made by the Commissioner-General of the Pavilion of Italy, Paolo Glicente, about Italy's participation in «Expo 2020 Dubai», noting that its participation will be one of the best.

His Highness added: «We will stand in the line of creativity, biased in the spirit of tolerance, hoping for a decent future for all human beings, and Expo Square will be a theater for all .. Creating, building, listening and learning».

«Matera» .. City of stones in Italy

The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigio de Mayo, accompanied His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to a high mountain view, to see the old town «Sassi», the most prominent landmarks «Matera», nicknamed the city of stones in Italy . Matera has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1993 and was declared the European Capital of Culture in 2019.

Italy .. «beauty brings people»

The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigu de Mayo thanked His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan for participating in this event in Matera, stressing that Italy has supported the UAE hosting the Expo 2020 since 2013.

He explained that the slogan of the Italian pavilion, participating in «Expo 2020 Dubai», is «beauty brings people», expressing his country's desire to be the Italian pavilion attractive platform for visitors.

Moving the banner of the exhibition from Milan to the UAE holds a great responsibility in presenting what is new.

50

Years of commitment to action in support of peace, stability and development.