Sharjah 24 – WAM: Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, attended the fifth edition of the Paris Peace Forum held on November 11 and 12.

This year the theme of the annual forum was ‘Riding out the Multicrisis’ and preventing a destructive world polarisation that risk jeopardizing global collective efforts addressing humanity’s most critical challenges.

Leaders and representatives of states, international organisations, businesses, development banks as well as foundations and NGOs from around the world convened at the forum to forge solutions and take actions to mitigate global challenges.

Speaking on a panel targeting the embedding of culture at the core of policies and cooperation, Minister Al Kaabi shed light on the UAE’s firm commitment to culture and the significant role it plays with regard to the country’s regional and global cooperation efforts.

On the panel, she was joined by Youssou Ndour, Artist and Former Minister of Culture of Senegal; Ernesto Ottone, Assistant Director General for Culture, UNESCO; and Mariko Silver, President, Luce Foundation.

The session was moderated by Nathalie Delapalme, Executive Director of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

The discussion was attended by diplomats, government representatives, private sector players as well as journalists and media representatives from around the world who convened in Paris to attend the conference.

Speaking about culture and its significance in the global arena, Al Kaabi said that “culture is a way of life, a mix of the old and the new, what we inherited from our forefathers and how we place it in the current context. Culture promotes social cohesion and enhances people-to-people interactions and is a prerequisite for peace in the world.”

She further added that in the UAE, sustainability, diversity and dialogue are the pillars of culture, and it is these values that spur growth, opportunity, and creativity. The notions of tolerance, fraternity and coexistence, are deeply ingrained in the UAE’s cultural tapestry today.

Al Kaabi said that it is very important to inculcate culture among our youth and allow them to explore creatively the bridging of their heritage with the opportunities of the future.

She also added that a robust cultural and creative sector remains at the heart of the UAE’s growth strategy and to give it a further boost, the UAE has been rallying for the amplification of culture and arts education.

Al Kaabi thanked UNESCO, the European Union and Iraqi authorities for joining hands with the UAE and their efforts in rehabilitating Mosul.

She concluded her speech by saying that work is underway to create a thriving and bustling city of Mosul inspiring hope for the future.