His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, welcomed all world leaders and international pavilions participating in "Expo 2020 Dubai." He stated in a tweet yesterday, "I met today with the Presidents of Senegal and Sierra Leone at their respective pavilions at Expo Dubai 2020. We welcome all global leaders and all international pavilions in Dubai, and we send a message of friendship and love to all the peoples of the world through the largest cultural event in the world."
Yesterday, Sheikh Mohammed met with the President of Senegal, Macky Sall, during his visit to the Senegal pavilion at "Expo 2020 Dubai," in the presence of Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of the "Expo 2020 Dubai" Office, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi. Sheikh Mohammed and President Sall exchanged friendly discussions about the bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to enhance these relations within the framework of available and future opportunities. They reaffirmed their mutual commitment to strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two countries and the importance of identifying the requirements for establishing strategic partnerships in various fields, aligning with the interests of both peoples. They also discussed recent global efforts to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sheikh Mohammed and President Sall toured the pavilion located in the Mobility area, which provides a comprehensive idea of Senegal's rich culture, its diversity, and its renowned unique sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. The pavilion highlights important aspects of Senegal's history, traditions, and the visions of its people for the future, which are guided towards economic diversification and leveraging technology to support its ambitious developmental plans.
They viewed the exhibits showcasing the projects Senegal aims to pursue for significant advancements in vital areas, including mobility, goods, services, and data. This includes significant developments in infrastructure, aviation systems, rail networks, and ports, which are among the key areas of cooperation between the two countries, particularly in developing and operating maritime infrastructure, benefitting from the UAE's extensive experience in this field.
### Enhancing Sustainable Development
Sheikh Mohammed also met with the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, yesterday, attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, during his visit to the Sierra Leone pavilion located in the "Opportunity Area" at "Expo 2020 Dubai." The meeting addressed the advancements achieved in the relations between the two countries and ways to elevate these ties to broader horizons for the benefit of both friendly nations. They underscored the importance of working together to uncover new strengths to enhance sustainable development and enable vital sectors to identify and activate new growth opportunities for a prosperous future.
Sheikh Mohammed and President Bio learned about the significant interests of the Sierra Leone government and people in documenting partnerships with the world to establish strong foundations for a new phase of work, aiming to reach advanced levels of prosperity and development, based on Sierra Leone's natural resources and diverse attractions that make it one of the important tourist destinations in West Africa. This includes Atlantic Ocean-facing beaches, forests, and national parks, rich in unique biodiversity and environmental diversity.
Sheikh Mohammed and the visiting president listened to a presentation about the pavilion, which Sierra Leone seeks to use to showcase its cultural heritage, customs, traditions, and promote various investment opportunities, especially in the tourism sector, which is preparing to regain its activity as the world enters a recovery phase from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sheikh Mohammed expressed his full appreciation for what he witnessed during the visit regarding the comprehensive development movements many countries in Africa are experiencing, hoping that this distinguished participation in "Expo 2020 Dubai" will be a precursor to a new phase of economic and cultural convergence between the people of the UAE and all friendly African nations, wishing them further progress, growth, and prosperity.
