Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, recently participated in the concluding session of the G20 Riyadh Summit. Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Summit was organized by Saudi Arabia under the theme ‘Realizing the Opportunities of the 21st Century for All’.

The G20 Riyadh Summit took place virtually this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and a number of Emirate ministers participated in the Summit as part of the UAE delegation.

Thanking King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud for hosting the outstanding virtual summit, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum highlighted the significant role played by the Kingdom Saudi Arabia in promoting international cooperation and efforts to explore possible solutions to tackle major global challenges.

The UAE Vice President further hailed the efforts taken by Saudi Arabia to implement the Kingdom's Vision 2030 under the guidance and leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and consistent follow-ups by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. KSA's Vision 2030 is in line with the main goals of the G20 to achieve sustainable development, macroeconomic stability, women empowerment, supporting human capital and facilitating the flow of trade and investment.

Sheikh Mohammed underlined the significance of discussing collaborative global action to tackle the challenges that countries across the world are facing, particularly the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He further highlighted the importance of exploring potential ways of boosting cooperation among G20 member states for the welfare of humanity by stepping up development opportunities in the post-pandemic recovery process.

Sheikh Mohammed affirmed that "cooperation is an existential necessity for humankind because we share the same destiny."

He added that common challenges facing the world, such as climate change, food and water security, low-cost education among others must be addressed by joint efforts of the global community with steadfast determination. 

Sheikh Mohammed also laid emphasis on the efforts taken by the UAE in supporting various international initiatives to overcome challenges faced by the world. He stressed that the UAE continues to have a consistent and explicit position on global cooperation, expressing his country's full commitment to assisting in all endeavors aimed at promoting the welfare of humankind, particularly ongoing efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

In conclusion, Sheikh Mohammed expressed hope in welcoming G20 leaders at the Expo 2020 in Dubai scheduled to open in October next year.

"The UAE is looking forward to welcoming you next year to Expo 2020, which will see the participation of more than 190 countries," Sheikh Mohammed affirmed.

During the first day of the virtual Summit, sessions addressed the global preparedness and response to the pandemic and building an inclusive, sustainable and resilient future.

The UAE participated in the virtual summit along with G20 member countries, heads of invited states and representatives of international organizations, such as the International Labor Organization (ILO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United Nations (UN), the World Bank Group (WBG), the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

WAM