On Novembre 14 Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Marina Sereni left Rome for an official visit to the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain that ended on November 18.
During her mission in the United Arab Emirates, Deputy Minister Marina Sereni held official meetings and talks with representatives of politics, the economic world, and culture, as well as with representatives of civil society. Ms. Sereni also visited the Italian Pavilion within Expo Dubai 2020.
“The Italian presence at Expo Dubai is a showcase for what our country can achieve in terms of creativity, technologies, sustainability, culture“, Ms. Sereni said to journalist Guendalina Dainelli, who interviewed her in the UAE.
The main focus of the visit, however, was interreligious dialogue, as demonstrated by Ms. Sereni’s participation to the presentation of the Global Tolerance Alliance and to the Global Interfaith Summit.
“Cooperation and dialogue between states and religious institutions are fundamental. During the pandemic, religious leaders raised their voices in defence of the poor and the most vulnerable, for an equitable distribution of vaccines. Governments and religious authorities can share responsibility for promoting solidarity, mutual understanding and cooperation, eradicating discrimination and intolerance” said Ms. Sereni speaking at the Global Interfaith Forum, underlining Italy’s commitment to promoting interreligious dialogue, as the G20 Interfaith Forum held in Bologna last September also demonstrated.
On November 17, Ms. Sereni travelled to Manama, the capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Here, she met Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Al Khalifa, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al Khalifa, Director-General of the Bahraini Authority for Antiquities, Hala Al Khalifa, and Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Women, Hala Al Ansari.
The talks focused on the complex bilateral partnership, which was further enriched with the signing of the agreement to establish a Joint Commission, which Deputy Minister Sereni signed with her counterpart.
Alongside the strengthening of bilateral relations, the Deputy Minister also discussed the main dossiers on the international agenda in the region, with particular attention to the dramatic situation in Yemen and the upcoming elections in Libya, but also human rights and the fight against climate change.
Together with Deputy Minister Al Khalifa, Sereni then inaugurated the Italy-Bahrain Business Council, which was established thanks to the commitment of Italian Ambassador in Manama, Paola Amadei, and which already includes many first-class Italian and Bahraini businesses.
Finally, Deputy Minister Marina Sereni attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition “DIVA! Italian Glamor in Fashion Jewelry” on display at the National Museum of the Kingdom of Bahrain from 17th November until 11th December 2021.
The exhibition, curated by Professor Alba Cappellieri, professor of the Politecnico di Milano and Director of the Jewelry Museum of Vicenza, will showcase a wonderful repertoire of more than 200 pieces of Italian jewelry The exhibition wants to tell us the story of Italian fashion jewelry and wants to pay tribute to Italian creativity and manufacturing, art and technology, beauty and innovation.
