Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday attended the first session of the symposium to discuss the theme of World Expo 2020 ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, which kicked off at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.
The symposium is attended by delegations from the 167 member nations of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the international intergovernmental organisation in charge of overseeing the process of selecting the host countries for International Expos, as well as of the organisation of World and International Expos.
Prior to the session, Shaikh Mohammad met with 250 representatives and international experts participating in the three-day event and he individually welcomed and greeted them, wishing them success in their discussions for the logo of Expo 2020, in the event of winning the bid to host this renowned international event.
Shaikh Mohammad also wished the delegates a pleasant stay in the UAE, and hoped that they would familiarise themselves with the historical and contemporary landmarks of Dubai’s heritage, as well as the rich cultural legacy of Emirati people.
Also present were Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group and President of the Supreme National Committee for Expo 2020, and a number of senior officials.
The symposium will give the UAE an opportunity to further demonstrate to BIE delegates the global relevance and timeliness of the bid theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. The delegates will also have the chance to explore the three subthemes — Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity — which represent the key drivers of global development. Also, a series of field visits will run alongside the symposium.
Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, was the first speaker in the session, which was also attended by Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Development and International Co-operation, Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Reem Al Hashemi, Minister of State and Managing Director of the Supreme National Committee for Expo 2020, Mohammad Ebrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of the Dubai Ruler’s Court, members of the Higher National Committee for Dubai Expo 2020 and a number of senior officials, along with a number of heads of diplomatic and consular missions in the country.
Shaikh Nahyan affirmed that Shaikh Mohammad has qualified and knowledgeable teams of long experience in various fields, led by His Highness with all wisdom and efficiency, and these teams can implement his vision for the UAE’s future in order to be number one globally.
