Day: October 22, 2021

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, today met with the Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Simonetti during his visit to the country’s Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The meeting discussed new avenues to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries in a range of fields, including technology, renewable energy, food security and life sciences among others.

Sheikh Mohammed and Simonetti toured the Lithuania Pavilion, located in the sustainability district, which highlights the country’s various technological advancements in everything from lasers to life sciences.

The airy, light-filled design of the Openarium Lithuania’s Pavilion at Expo welcomes visitors via a shaded wooden terrace decorated with brightly coloured traditional Lithuanian shutters. Inside the Pavilion, the central highlight is the ‘Unseen Lithuania’ exhibit, a high-definition digital tour of the country’s natural beauty. The Pavilion also showcases the Lithuanian cuisine and authentic handcrafts.

Sheikh Mohammed also visited the Pavilion of Sweden, located in the Sustainability District, where he was briefed on Sweden’s experience in building smart cities, developing the next generation of travel, innovating life sciences and developing a bio-circular economy.

Sweden’s vast boreal forests are places of magic, beauty and solitude much like the sweeping deserts of the UAE. The Sweden Pavilion at Expo 2020 offers an enchanting blend of these two cultures, combining a Nordic woodland-inspired experience with Middle Eastern architectural flair. The Pavilion’s tree-filled design leads visitors through a variety of ‘clearings’ among the stylised trunks, where interactive multimedia exhibits explore themed topics. Visitors are able to explore next-generation travel systems and immerse themselves in futuristic smart cities while absorbing the authentic sounds of Sweden’s rich woodlands.

At the end of his tour, His Highness expressed his appreciation for the efforts taken to showcase innovation, culture and knowledge at the Sweden Pavilion and expressed the hope that Expo 2020 Dubai will help reinforce ties between the UAE and Sweden.

Being held for the first time in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, Expo 2020 Dubai houses the pavilions of 192 countries participating in the event as well as those of diverse organisations from across the world. The global show runs until 31 March 2022.

Source: WAM – Emirates News Agency

Lithuania celebrates its National Day at Expo 2020 today with an impressive line-up of cultural and entertainment activities – including jazz, opera and a gala concert on Expo’s Jubilee Stage.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai, welcomed Ingrida Šimonyte, Prime Minister of Lithuania to the flag-raising ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza’s Stage of Nations and praised the country’s varied achievements.

The minister said: “The pavilion of Lithuania represents a country that is open for business, creativity, sustainable practices and more. The pavilion has an extroverted personality of its own and showcases Lithuania’s success as a modern nation, focusing on achievements in solar energy, information and financial technologies, life sciences, and laser technology.

“With Expo 2020, we hope to build on existing partnerships between Lithuania and the UAE. Our developing ties will only flourish further in the near future, as we seek enhanced cooperation in various other fields of mutual interest, such as financial technology, innovation, research, arti?cial intelligence, food security and clean energy.”

Prime Minister Šimonyte said: “I would like to thank the UAE government for its hospitality and for organising this international event, which gives us the opportunity to share ideas and solutions, especially after the interruption that the world has witnessed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are looking forward to strengthening our bilateral relations by exchanging expertise and exploring opportunities for cooperation, especially since we have a common interest in many issues, such as food security and hydrogen as a source of clean energy.

“In addition to addressing pressing global issues such as climate change, Expo 2020 Dubai presents an opportunity to learn about different cultures. In our pavilion, we are keen to convey the message of sustainability and the importance of tackling this issue in an open and flexible environment. Our pavilion is centered around natural resources and our rich culture. It also highlights the latest innovative technologies of Lithuania.”

Named ‘Openarium’, the Lithuania Pavilion is located in the Sustainability District. Under the theme ‘Sustainable Synergies’, the pavilion communicates with visitors through unique Lithuanian architecture that has been designed with elements that correlate with the heart essential parts of the country’s identity, such as warmth, nature, and comfort.

As a burgeoning tech economy making advances in everything from lasers to life sciences, Lithuania is ready to throw open its doors to the world. Inside the pavilion, the central highlight is the Unseen Lithuania exhibit, a high-definition digital tour of the country’s unspoiled natural beauty. Visitors will also be able to sample Lithuanian cuisine inside the restaurant, and to browse the authentic handcrafts in the souvenir shop.

To the backdrop of the Expo site’s illuminated night-time landscape, Lithuania will host a three-hour gala concert on the Jubilee Stage later on Friday, featuring opera classics and contemporary opera fused with electronic music. Earlier, Lithuanian jazz musicians performed live at the Earth Stage in Expo’s Sustainability District, while Lithuania is also hosting Country Business Forum at Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion’s Auditorium.

National and Honour Days at Expo 2020 Dubai are moments to celebrate each of our 200-plus International Participants, shining a light on their culture and achievements and showcasing their pavilions and programming. Each features a flag-raising ceremony at the Stage of Nations in Al Wasl Plaza, followed by speeches and cultural performances.

Running until 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 has invited visitors from across the planet to join the making of a new world in a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture.

Source: WAM – Emirates News Agency