HM King Tupou VI holds bilateral talks with UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation & Managing Director EXPO 2020 ^Featured

During His Majesty’s stop over, an invitation was extended by Her Excellency Minister Reem Al Hashimi (Minister of State for International Cooperation & Managing Director EXPO 2020) to visit the site of EXPO 2020.

His Majesty was warmly welcomed by Her Excellency Minister Reem and the top executives of EXPO 2020 and prior to the site visit were able to discuss issues of mutual interest. 

This included the development of trade opportunities for high yield goods such as fisheries, agriculture and possible further investments in infrastructure like the Vava’u Solar Plant, which was wholly funded by the Government of the UAE.

Possible investment in tourism infrastructure (Hotels and Resorts) was also discussed, with Her Excellency remembering fondly her visits to the Kingdom and the friendliness of the people and beauty of the Kingdom’s islands.

His Majesty conveyed His wish that EXPO 2020 could be the catalyst for youth development and opportunity in education and cultural understanding.

The quickly changing global political climate was extensively discussed whereby the need for strong alliances outside of inter regional relationships needed to be further developed.

To this extent Her Excellency thanked His Majesty for the strong support and assistance for the United Arab Emirates in winning the bid for EXPO 2020, as well as Abu Dhabi winning its bid as headquarters for the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

His Majesty was able to convey on behalf of His Majesty’s Government the gratitude for the quick and kind assistance for the US$ 3.5 million grant aid to support the electricity infrastructure rebuild to the villages, following cyclone Gita.

In closing, Her Excellency reaffirmed the special relationship between the two Royal Households and the peoples of the United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of Tonga.