emirates7 - Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, on Thursday attended Guatemala's National Day celebrations at Expo 2020 Dubai, with the participation of Anayansy Rodriguez, Guatemala's Minister of Tourism, and a number of officials and members of the diplomatic corps from both countries.

Guatemala celebrated its National Day with traditional music and dance that can be traced back to the ancient Mayan civilisation and a message of continued international collaboration.

A captivating performance by the Guatemala National Folkloric Ballet followed the ceremony, transporting the audience to the heart of the Mayan world with traditional dances and music, including the sounds of Guatemala's national instrument, the Marimba.

Dr. Al Zeyoudi said, "Guatemala's participation tells the story of a rich country in its cultural, touristic, and business offerings. The pavilion features innovative start-ups founded by Guatemalan entrepreneurs and the many available opportunities in the investment, energy, and agriculture fields, among others.

"We are pleased to share continuously thriving bilateral ties with Guatemala. We also look forward to exploring opportunities for further collaboration between our two countries in areas of common interest, to support one another in achieving our national priorities."

Rodriguez stated, "Our [President, Alejandro Giammetti's] administration has promoted cultural diplomacy, and Expo 2020 Dubai is an example of this. As of today, almost 400,000 people have visited the Guatemala Pavilion, enabling the strengthening of trade relations and cultural exchange.

She added that Guatemala is a country with 3,000 years of history, full of cultural richness, and the six months that the Guatemala Pavilion has been open have been an extraordinary opportunity to make the country known. "We live with the results for having displayed Guatemalan culture, and a first-class tourist destination and economy in Central America and were able to highlight our favourable business climate."

Guatemala's Minister of Tourism emphasised how the country, with its diverse natural environment and World Heritage Site status, is driving responsible tourism.

She also shared that the UAE was Guatemala's tenth-largest export partner in 2020, and that the country expects the ranking to increase following the nation's participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, highlighting the opportunities for investors.

National and Honour Days at Expo 2020 Dubai are moments to celebrate each of Expo's 200-plus international participants, shining a light on their culture and achievements and showcasing their pavilions and programming.