Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed receives the Crown Prince of Luxembourg at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, on Saturday met with Crown Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg, who is visiting Dubai as part of Luxembourg’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai.

The meeting, held at the country’s Pavilion in the presence of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, explored ways of strengthening bilateral relations between Luxembourg and the UAE, with a focus on future development and means of expanding cooperation in the fields of economy, technology and culture. The meeting also discussed ways of enhancing partnership between the private sectors of both countries in areas of investment and trade.

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed praised the fast-paced development of Luxembourg as a key global financial and industrial destination. He also expressed the hope that the country’s participation in Expo 2020 in Dubai will facilitate further cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest.

Crown Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg expressed his admiration of the UAE’s comprehensive development drive, which represents an inspiring model of sustainable development. He also praised the ambitious vision of the UAE for the future, noting Luxembourg and the UAE’s strong ties in the fields of financial services, logistics, space, health and fintech.

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed and Crown Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg toured the Luxembourg Pavilion being held under the theme ‘Resourceful Luxembourg’. The design of the Pavilion is based on the idea of the Möbius ribbon, an infinite form, like the circular economy, but also a symbol of openness and dynamism.

Meanwhile  Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), affirmed that the UAE National Pavilion and the Vision Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai reflect the inspiring civilised and humanitarian face of the country and its wise leadership’s efforts in building the Emirati human being.

The UAE National Pavilion and the Vision Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai also highlight the achievements of the Union State and its ambitions through its international partnership in promoting the sustainable development worldwide, said Ghobash during a tour of a number of national pavilions at the world great show’s Mobility District. Ghobash started his tour with the UAE National, which designed in the shape of a falcon in flight under the theme ‘’The Land of Dreamers Who Do’’, and learned about the success developmentstory of the UAE and its rich history and promising future.

He also visited the Vision Pavilion, which is based on His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai’s book ‘’My Story’’ that narrates his life through 50 stories. The pavilion celebrates the vision of Sheikh Mohammed that contributed to transforming Dubai into a modern metropolis.

‘’Expo 2020 Dubai is a source of inspiration for countries of the world to strengthen collective international action to address current and future global challenges through creative solutions for building a better, sustainable future,’’ he added.

Meanwhile the Mohamed Bin Zayed Award for Best Teacher announced the launch of its Fourth Cycle, during a press conference held at the Expo 2020 Dubai, which included members of the award, to highlight the latest developments.

The award’s new cycle will be open for foreign and non-Arabic speaking teachers in private schools and the international community who can apply and register for the award in the English language. The joining of a group of Arab countries alongside Switzerland and the setting of qualitative development plans is a step towards conveying the mission of the educational award to the world.

The press conference was attended by Hussain Al Hammadi, Minister of Education and General Supervisor of the Award; Eng. Abdul Rahman Al Hammadi, Vice Chairman of the Supreme Committee of the Award; Mohamed Al Nuaimi, Director of the Education Affairs Office at the Crown Prince Court in Abu Dhabi, and Member of the Supreme Committee; Dr. Mohamed Al Mulla, Chairman of the Technical Committee; Sheikha Kholoud Al Qasimi, Assistant Under-Secretary of the Inspection Sector in the UAE, and Vice Chairman of the Technical Committee, and Dr. Hamad Ahmed Al Darmaki, Secretary-General of the Award.

Speaking at the press conference, Al Hammadi expressed his sincere gratitude to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Sponsor of the Award, for his unstinted support for education and educational awards aimed at the teacher, including the Mohamed bin Zayed Award for Best Teacher. The award was essential at this stage to become a real tool that translates the leadership’s aspirations in developing education by empowering the teacher who is the nerve-centre of the educational process and making innovation and creativity a sustainable means to pave the way towards building knowledge generations through creative learning environments.

He remarked that the award was launched in 2017, and within this short period, it has received a positive and wide response in the various participating countries.

He stressed that this was reflected in the expansion of the participation scope in the targeted countries.

“Alongside achieving an additional gain that is the desire of other Arab countries to join, which they expressed, and that is something we are all pleased about. The Syrian Arab Republic, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Republic of Iraq and the Republic of Tunisia joined the award in its Fourth Cycle. We always welcome the participating countries and appreciate their tireless efforts to be truly present in the field of knowledge and educational competitiveness through this pioneering award.”

He added that the award seeks universality and access to every teacher in all parts of the world, and in this regard, Switzerland, Finland and Austria have joined the award. “That is participation we are pleased with. It indicates a great global educational movement in which the award will be the main player.”

He expressed his sincere gratitude to the work teams in the participating countries, and the Ministries of Education, which supported the award’s objectives of the Third Cycle.

Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, announced the launch of the fifth annual session of the National Festival of Tolerance and Coexistence from Nov.14 to Nov.20, 2021, under the slogan of “On Zayed’s Approach”.

‘’We are so proud that the activities of Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence involve the living embodiment of the acts and words of the great Founding Father, the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He was an example and a role model in terms of his keenness to enhance the principles of tolerance, coexistence, fraternity, hope and joint action in the UAE and worldwide. Shaikh Zayed was also a role model of allegiance and belonging to our religion of righteousness, beloved homeland and eternal nation. Sheikh Zayed was further an example of positive communication with others and the ability to understand and respect different civilisations and cultures,’’ Sheikh Nahyan said.

He also pointed out that this year, the National Festival of Tolerance has deeper themes. It coincides with the UAE’s celebrations of the fiftieth and Expo 2020 Dubai, where it welcomes the whole world with its aspirations, ambitions and challenges. So, the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence decided to make a global festival. Most of the festival activities will be organised among the world representatives in Expo 2020 Dubai. Besides, the festival’s main initiatives and activities will address humane issues of the interest of all nations and peoples. In particular, the speakers and guests of the festival are international figures in terms of their positions and places.

Regarding the details of the festival’s activities and initiatives, Sheikh Nahyan said, “The festival activities will last from 14th to 20th November, including those of our partner ministers, authorities, establishments, universities and schools. The key activities will be launched at 11:16 on 16th November to commemorate the International Day for Tolerance. This day will witness a large set of international activities.

First: Launching Global Tolerance Alliance. The Global Tolerance Alliance will be announced in an epic scene where everybody pledges to exert all possible efforts to enhance the culture of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. It is a unique global initiative to be launched from the UAE to the world as a platform. This event represents an opportunity to express our firm commitment to welcome all people, understand and respect their needs and constantly work to realise common knowledge and mutual enrichment for the human.

Second: Global Interfaith Summit “Towards Compassionate World.”

Expo 2020 Dubai will embrace the festival’s main activities where the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence will launch the Global Interfaith Summit under the theme of “Towards Compassionate World through Tolerance and Interfaith Understanding”. Religious leaders from all over the world will attend the summit. They will come to Expo 2020 Dubai to hold a dialogue, reach a common understanding, search for the points which could unite the world and set aside detestable sectarian conflicts and tendencies.

The festival is keen to host international prominent speakers in this summit, including Marina Sereni, Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who will speak about strengthening of humanity through international collaboration and interfaith dialogue; Dr. Muhammad Al Duwaini, Deputy of the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, will address the issue of the faith that is rooted in human values; Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, will also tackle the importance of multilateralism and fraternity as a path towards a cohesive society, while Miguel Angel Moratinos, High Representative for the U.N. Alliance of Civilisations, will discuss the notion of “Bridging Divides Catalyses Interfaith and Understanding” and other religious leaders.

Third: Global Youth Forum in Expo 2020 Dubai.

Out of the concern to convey the message of tolerance, coexistence and dialogue to the global youth as they are the most important sector in our world, the ministry will launch the “Global Youth Forum” titled “From Youth to Future Thinking”. It will spotlight the world’s need to share use the creative abilities of youth from different nationalities and specialities. The forum provides the opportunity to host young global leaders, introduce their visions about the future and establish sustainable programmes in all areas capable of coping with the endless rapid changes. Sheikh Nahyan added that the forum’s message integrates with “Champions of Tolerance” programme showcasing its Expo 2020 Dubai global version. This year, each country participating in Expo will have one representative.

Fourth: “Voices of Tolerance” the world sings for peace, love, and human fraternity in Expo 2020.

On its first day, the festival asserts the importance of the active and essential role of arts and music which can deliver the message to the people’s hearts everywhere through the initiative of “Voices of Tolerance”. It is a musical performance of peace, love and sympathy from the United Arab Emirates to all nations and peoples. Some 219 persons, representing the states in Expo 2020 Dubai, will participate in this artistic humanitarian performance which the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence produces.

Fifth: “Tolerance and Inclusivity for Women’s Rights Conference.” The 2nd day of the festival will be dedicated to supporting and spotlight woman’s efforts and the vital role of fostering the values of tolerance and coexistence (nationally and internationally). That is why the festival organises “Tolerance and Inclusivity for Women’s Rights Conference” with two panels. The first panel is titled “Role of Social Norms in the Gender Gap”, and will discuss the methods to establish and empower the values of tolerance and coexistence. The second panel will be titled “Importance of Tolerance, Coexistence and Inclusivity in Fragile Contexts”, where speakers will focus on rebuilding a stable social fabric.

Sixth: Open Invitation for All to involve in the festival. Sheikh Nahyan has sent open invitations to all partners of the ministry, ministries, authorities and institutions, whether federal, local or private, to participate in the interactive activities.

He has invited students of universities, schools and the global audience in Expo 2020 Dubai to share the efforts to foster the culture of tolerance and experience. All activities will be broadcast live on the ministry’s website to familiarise them with the activities.

Seventh: UAE’s Experience of Tolerance in Global Vision in Expo 2020. Sheikh Nahyan said, “the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence was keen to cover different activities in the festival which are provided by the ministry in cooperation with a large number of national and international institutions and authorities. In addition, it was interested in organising joint activities in cooperation with the international pavilions participating in Expo 2020 Dubai. He highlighted the fact that Expo 2020 Dubai is a great opportunity to pave the way for more than 192 countries, which are participating in Expo 2020, to take part in the events of the festival and get introduced to the concepts of the Emirati experience in the area of tolerance. We are proud of our national experience of tolerance and coexistence, which was started 50 years ago by Sheikh Zayed, and the care of our wise leaders after him.

Eighth: Importance of Media to Promote Global Tolerance. Sheikh Nahyan underlined that all programmes and activities of the festival will be shared through both classic and modern media in an effort to reach everybody, welcoming all groups of the society to participate and follow the festival’s events.

WAM