Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday received Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, who is currently on a visit to the UAE.
The leaders discussed the creation of a strategic partnership between cultural and education institutions in the UAE and Chicago.
Daley said Chicago strives to develop the education sector and the cultural movement among all sectors of the American community, including Arab Americans, who are estimated at 230,000 out of a population of three million.
The Chicago Mayor expressed his wish to extend bridges of cultural and educational communications between Chicago city and cultural and academic bodies and establishments in the UAE.
He referred to efforts in the city to make great changes and development in the education sector, especially making the Arabic language as a mandatory topic at schools and universities in Chicago.
Daley pointed to the educational development and the feasible capital investment implemented by the UAE in the education sector. The talks between Shaikh Mohammad and Daley touched upon the Noor Dubai initiative which was described by Daley as a humanitarian effort widely welcomed by regional and international organisations.
The Chicago Mayor said the Noor Dubai initiative truly reflects Shaikh Mohammad's keenness to revive the spirit of happiness and hope among people with sight problems all around the world.
