UAE Champions Multilateralism At BRICS Culture Ministers Meeting
The UAE took part in the ninth BRICS Ministers of Culture Meeting in St. Petersburg, where a Joint Declaration was adopted by the member states' culture ministers. Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi, who led the UAE delegation, stressed the importance of multilateralism and collaborative efforts to address global challenges. He underscored the significance of expanding BRICS and reaffirmed the UAE's dedication to fostering multilateralism for a secure and sustainable world.
"The UAE strongly advocates for culture-based policy action, recognising culture as a vital tool for achieving sustainable development, peaceful coexistence, and inclusivity. Safeguarding culture and promoting cultural dialogue are national priorities, as we believe culture can unite people and drive global transformation," said Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
Sheikh Salem highlighted that cultural festivals, art exhibitions, film festivals, forums, and conferences are crucial platforms for celebrating cultural diversity. These events strengthen social bonds and unlock the potential of creative industries. He also noted that culture is a valuable resource for socioeconomic growth and climate action.He further commented, "Culture and creative industries play a vital role in fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, economic growth, and job creation while also serving as a key driver in exporting a nation’s culture and values globally. It is thus imperative to create a metric for data collection and measuring the culture and creative industries’ economic output to assess their role in contributing to the socioeconomic growth of communities."
Participation in International Forums
Following the BRICS meeting, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi attended the tenth St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum starting on 12th September. The forum featured a business programme at Hermitage's Main Headquarters in St. Petersburg's State Academic Chapel.The forum included panel discussions, high-level meetings, a gala concert, and a welcome reception for delegations from various countries. A rich cultural programme was also part of the event, including B. Eifman Theatre's ballet premiere "Crime and Punishment" at Alexandrinsky Theatre.Emirati mezzo-soprano Fatima Al Hashmi performed classic songs at the gala event, captivating attendees with her performance.Russia will chair the 2024 BRICS Summit under the theme "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security." Sheikh Salem emphasised that through shared efforts, global challenges can be addressed effectively.The UAE remains committed to promoting cultural dialogue as a means to achieve sustainable development goals globally.With inputs from WAM
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