• Dubai commits to sharing expertise after successful hosting of Expo 2020

Arab News Japan

Japan’s Minister for the World Expo 2025 Wakamiya Kenji, met with Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, at the Japanese Pavilion of Expo 2020 Dubai on Saturday.

The Japanese minister shared with Sheikh Hamdan the progress of plans to host the upcoming mega event at a site in Yumeshima Island in Osaka, Japan.

The next World Expo is scheduled to take place from April 13 until October 13, 2025, and is set to welcome about 150 countries and 25 international organisations.

During the meeting, Sheikh Hamdan said Dubai is committed to sharing the knowledge, expertise and insights it has acquired from its successful hosting of Expo 2020 Dubai with the organisers of World Expo 2025.

In December, the Wakamiya was scheduled to visit the Expo, however, was forced to cancel due to the spread of the Omicron variant at the time.

“The most important thing is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 cases at home and abroad,” he told Arab News Japan on Dec. 7, last year.

The minister was planning to attend Japan Day, which took place on Dec. 11.

Wakamiya promised to do his “utmost” to get as many countries and organizations as possible to participate in the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. 

The Osaka Expo is forecast to draw 28 million visitors, Wakamiya said, adding that Japan will use the opportunity to “make the attractions of its history, traditions and culture known more widely.”