Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, addressed the British Business Group's Annual Dinner at Le Royal Meridien Hotel in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday evening, and reiterated the strong ties that characterise the close relations between the UAE and the UK, providing keen insight into the importance of cultural diplomacy between the states.

Highlighting the collaborative efforts between the UAE and the UK in the fields of art, literature, science, sport, and trade, Sheikh Nahyan, who is also Patron and Honorary Member of the group, said, "We are all veteran diplomats of culture. Thus it is that we should all thrive in this UAE-UK year of cultural collaboration. This year of collaboration promises to deepen and strengthen our mutual understanding in beautiful, entertaining, instructive, and exciting ways."

With the UK/UAE Year of Collaboration launched for 2017 under the three main themes of Next Generation, Community, and Inclusion, which, he said, collectively characterise the cultural collaboration efforts between the two countries, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak welcomed the opportunities generated by the initiative to connect with other human beings, to create an empathetic world population, and achieve universal understanding.

"But the paradox of the twenty-first century endures," he said, explaining, "A certain chaos is not disappearing despite our growing power to connect with other human beings, our opportunity to gain global empathy, and our desire to achieve universal understandings. I can only conclude that human contact and face-to-face dialogue continue to be indispensable for reaching authentic and heartfelt cross-cultural understanding.

"This year of UAE-UK cultural collaboration will remind us of the value of the human warmth that lies beyond the cool confines of the internet. And the collaboration will benefit from an additional dimension quite obviously suggested by the themes of 'Community' and 'Inclusion'. That additional dimension is the reality of the United Arab Emirates itself. The Emirati culture welcomes a vast array of other cultures, ethnicities, languages, religions, and beliefs. At this global crossroads, both British culture and Emirati culture interact with each other and with the rest of our diverse population," the Minister added.

During his address, Sheikh Nahyan lauded the initiative as launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales at Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain, who both recognised that cultural collaboration between the UK and the UAE is a symbol of the deep and abiding friendship between the two nations and is a shining emblem of civilisation itself.

As the UK/UAE Year of Creative Collaboration coincides with the #Year of Giving in the UAE, the government's goal is to help all UAE residents and citizens make a difference in the lives of those they care for, and in their own lives, as well as involve public-private partnerships to encourage anyone who wishes to make a positive impact on the UAE.

"In this sense, the year of UK-UAE cultural collaboration could not be more auspiciously placed. On the one hand, cultural collaboration is a tangible example of giving as one group shares openly its culture with another, while on the other hand, it provides excellent context for the British Business Group to fulfil its corporate social responsibility obligations by working cooperatively with my ministry in the support of cross-cultural understanding and appreciation," Sheikh Nahyan concluded