UAE spreads hope across Middle East, says minister
Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, stated that the UAE, since its establishment, has adopted a noble mission and performed a pivotal role in creating and spreading hope around the region, most notably among the youth and future generations.
He made this statement during the Pioneers of Change Summit held remotely by the World Economic Forum (WEF) from Nov.16 to Nov.20, 2020.
The UAE always aims to establish peace in the region and adopt an approach based on reasonable dialogue and denouncing violence, he stressed, noting that the Abrahamic Peace Accord signed with Israel reflects this approach, as well as the UAE’S belief that the accord is necessary to implement a new approach to achieve peace, to end wars that lead to the loss of many lives and major economic damage.
Organisers said in the past decades, the United Arab Emirates has transformed into a leader in innovation and technology on the global stage. In this virtual strategic conversation, Al Gergawi spoke more about the country’s agile approach and forward-looking vision for the post-pandemic era.
The Pioneers of Change Summit brings together 750 the world’s top academics, politicians, business, youth, and civil society leaders from 90 countries to engage in addressing the most pressing issues on the global agenda.
During his speech, Al Gergawi presented the UAE’S pioneering experiences in various sectors and highlighted the fact that its advanced technological infrastructure has ensured the readiness of most vital national sectors, most notably the education sector, which has shited to remote learning, enabling the resumption of the school year and overcoming the repercussions of the current crisis facing the world.
Al Gergawi also highlighted the UAE’S timely response following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, and its positive and active role in the international community, noting that the country sent 1,613 tonnes of medical aid to over 120 countries, which benefited 1.54 million medical workers.
He then lauded the decision of Emirates Airline to create a logistical plaform for transporting the coronavirus vaccine challenge.
Al Gergawi explained the UAE’S recent humanitarian achievements, affirming the country’s keenness to launch related long-term initiatives, such as a digital school project that will provide education to nearly one million children.
The World Economic Forum’s inaugural Pioneers of Change Summit will convene innovative leaders and entrepreneurs from around the world to showcase their solutions, build meaningful connections and inspire change across the Forum’s diverse multistakeholder communities.
Separately, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State and UAE Sherpa, has underlined the priority issues that the UAE will champion during its engagement at the G-20 Summit - which include global health, quality education and the environment.
In a press briefing held virtually on Thursday ahead of the UAE’S participation in the 2020 G20 Riyadh Summit being held between November 21st-22nd, the Minister said the UAE is “honoured and humbled by the invitation, given that we only join seven other guest country invitees for this year’s summit.”
This would be the second time the UAE had been asked to join at the invitation of Saudi Arabia, following its atendance in 2011 at the invitation of France.
Al Sayegh said that the UAE, since the beginning of the year, has worked closely with bilateral and regional partners to identify priority issues during its engagement at the Summit - issues that mater to the UAE, the GCC, and to many smaller countries who are oten not represented at fora like the G-20.
“In light of this, we identified a number of priority areas, including: the Global Health Agenda; Sustainability and Climate Change; Food and Water Security; Quality Education; and Financial Inclusion,” he added.
He continued, “We have taken the opportunity of being part of the G-20 process to highlight some of the UAE’S critical perspectives, including emphasising the importance of global coordination and multilateralism; supporting efforts to ensure equitable and affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments; championing inclusive access to quality education; highlighting the need to support developing and least developed countries.”
The UAE always adopts an approach based on reasonable dialogue and denounces violence, says Gergawi; global health, climate change and education to top UAE’S agenda at G-20 Summit.