The UAE and Japan’s partnership goes back 52 years, to an Expo in Osaka – The National

The UAE and Japan’s partnership goes back 52 years, to an Expo in Osaka – The National

The UAE’s journey with Expo began in Osaka 52 years ago. With its humble pavilion, Abu Dhabi participated in Expo Osaka in 1970, culminating with the visit of the President, Sheikh Khalifa, in his capacity as the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

This high-level engagement began a tradition of visits between the UAE and Japan, extending from the UAE’s first appearance in an international exhibition. Fifty two years later, the UAE hosted the largest Expo to date, with 192 countries and more than 24 million visits under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”.

Moreover, 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Japan. The year also and represents an opportunity to reflect on the ways in which the two countries intend to strengthen co-operation over the next 50 years and diversify an important relationship. The UAE looks forward to signing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Initiative with Japan, thereby enabling an expansion and co-ordination in emerging fields and laying the groundwork to build upon existing areas of economic, political and cultural co-operation.