'Expo Dubai first in Middle East, key region' - Di Maio

(ANSAmed) - ROME, NOV 24 - Expo Dubai 2020 is an "extraordinary opportunity not just for Italy but for the whole world," Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said, unveiling Italy's National Day at the universal exposition in the Mideast emirate on Wednesday. "Expo Dubai is a location in which the cultures of the world meet to share their results and progress in the fields of science, technology, art, design and business", the minister also said.
    "This is the absolute first Universal Exhibition to be held in the Middle East, a crucial region that will offer unique opportunities for the full recovery of international tourism and investment flows".
    Di Maio also said that over 360,000 people had visited the Italian pavilion. "With over 360,000 visitors in the first five weeks and some 10,000 daily visits, the Italian pavilion is already one of the most appreciated", of Expo Dubai, the minister said. "In Italy - he stressed - we believe that beauty is generated by the creativity of our people and reflects on our productive, scientific and technological innovations".
    "At Expo Dubai, moreover, we will shed light on the beauty and diversity of Italian territories, thanks to the support and qualified contribution of Italian regions to the Expo participation project", said Di Maio.
    The United Arab Emirates and Italy "share a deep friendship" and "we hope to build a strong partnership between our countries through Expo 2020 and beyond", said the minister of tolerance and coexistence of the Emirates, Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, speaking at the ceremony with Di Maio. "Our bilateral trade with Italy is close to 11 billion dollars and continues to grow. But our relationship goes beyond this and is connected to friendship and national priorities that we share and on which we work together", he added.
    The Emirati minister expressed "appreciation" to minister Di Maio, to Italy's general commissioner for Expo, Paolo Glisenti, for Italy's "unique participation in its kind" at Expo. "One of our objectives at the 2020 Expo is to stress the cultural message of the Emirates to the world that is based on the values of peace, tolerance, human solidarity. We are proud to have Italy as a trustworthy partner that not only shares these ideas but promotes them with us", he stressed. (ANSAmed).