The forum is jointly hosted by the UAE and Japan.
Shaikh Abdullah noted that concerted and intensive efforts were required to surmount the global upheavals wisely, rationally and with political foresight and will.
“We affirm our determination to improve the means of cooperation, facilitate confidence building and overcome the differences through dialogue and peaceful ways in order to achieve human security, sustainable peace and comprehensive reforms,” Shaikh Abdullah said.
“This event reinforces our country’s efforts to achieve an economically developed, socially tolerant and a humanitarian society,” he emphasised.
The minister said that the UAE supports the efforts being made in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to enhance sustainable development, peace and stability, and to renounce violence, extremism and terror.
He said: “The UAE has achieved high levels of human development, standards of living and education. Medical care and housing have been given priority, in addition to human rights, women’s empowerment and women’s participation in all sectors.”
“We continue to actively and responsibly develop our domestic political, educational, economic and social reform programmes,” he added.
Shaikh Abdullah said the UAE also contributes to initiatives that seek to alleviate hunger, poverty, illiteracy and epidemics around the world, stabilise oil and financial markets, in addition to promoting openness and transparency.
Many of the humanitarian initiatives undertaken by the UAE during the last five years had contributed positively to achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. “We consider it our responsibility to do more to ensure a secure, just and peaceful international order,” he stressed. In response to the demand by some delegates that reforms must come from within the region, Shaikh Abdullah said: “Reform in the Middle East is above all a national demand. It is a necessity for the present and the future. However, the extent and means of reforms differ from one country to another, according to each country’s past and current environment, capabilities and culture.”
“On the other hand, we also feel the need to develop an international security structure that includes economic, cultural and social elements in its military dimensions,” he pointed out.
Addressing the forum, the Japanese State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Seiko Hashimoto, said: “We respect the initiatives to develop the MENA region. – With inputs from agencies
