UAE and New Zealand FMS discuss relations
DUBAI: Sheikh abdul l ah binzay ed al na hy an, minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, received Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, Nanaia Mahuta, at Expo 2020 Dubai.
During the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah and Mahuta discussed friendship ties and co-operation and ways to enhance them in all spheres in light of the distinguished bilateral relations between the two countries.
The two sides also exchanged views on several issues of mutual interest and the latest regional and global developments.
Sheikh ab dull a hand the new zealand minister of Foreign Affairs also tackled New Zealand’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai and its role in promoting ties between the two countries and cooperation in several sectors for their mutual benefit.
Sheikh Abdullah welcomed Mahuta and emphasised the strong ties between the UAE and New Zealand and keenness on boosting them in all domains.
Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director-general of Expo 2020 Dubai, atended the meeting.
Earlier, Nanaia Mahuta said that she won’t be the last indigenous woman to hold this position in her country.
The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, appointed Mahuta, a Māori, in November 2020, as the country’s first-ever indigenous female foreign minister. However, due to the government’s COVID-19 elimination strategy, Mahuta was only able to start her foreign trips this month.
The UAE was among the seven countries she chose to visit. The other countries are Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Qatar, the US and Canada.
“I certainly won’t be the last,” she said in an exclusive interview in Dubai on Thursday when asked about the message that the government of New Zealand intended to convey to the world by appointing her in this position.
“As an indigenous woman, I’m commited to the future of my country, I take on the values of myself and many other women – I want a bigger New Zealand [in terms of inclusiveness], which is going to be good for my children and their children. I want New Zealand to be a beter place,” she explained.