DUBAI, 10 November 2021 – Mexico celebrated its National Day at Expo 2020 on Wednesday 10 November with dance and song, representing the country’s deep cultural history, as well as traditional eats and a flag-raising ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza.
A highlight was the Folkloric Ballet of Mexico’s performance – an extravaganza featuring 70 dancers dressed in traditional Mexican attire, representing the country’s colourful traditions. Mexican tenor Javier Camarena performed on the Sea, Sun and Earth stages at various points in the day, and there was an appearance by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Lila Downs. There was also a cultural performance by Elisa Carrillo, the first Mexican dancer to perform at the Public Ballet of Berlin, at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre.
Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020, welcomed Her Excellency Martha Delgado Peralta, Deputy Secretary of Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights at Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Her Excellency Martha Jaramillo, Commissioner General of the Mexico Pavilion at Expo 2020.
Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director, Commissioner General Office, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “The UAE is proud to be Mexico’s second-largest trading partner in the Middle East, with bilateral trade nearing the USD 1.5 billion mark, and we remain keen to develop and diversify aspects of cooperation with our partners in Mexico at the government and private sector levels across areas of mutual interest to our two countries, such as tourism, aviation, FDI attraction and SME empowerment.
“Last year, we celebrated 45 years of diplomatic ties with Mexico, and through Mexico’s presence at Expo this year we look forward to celebrating more milestones together, and to a flourishing relationship that has the mutual prosperity of our nations and people at its core.”
Addressing media, Her ExcellencyFrancisca E Méndez Escobar, Ambassador of Mexico to the UAE; Her Excellency Martha Delgado Peralta; and Bernado Noval, Director of the Mexico Pavilion, discussed Mexico’s arts and cultural prowess and the opportunities presented by the nation’s participation at Expo 2020 to promote all aspects of the country globally.
Noval also revealed that the Mexico Pavilion has welcomed 83,000 visitors since the start of the event on 1 October 2021, with 9,800 people, roughly 12 per cent of the pavilion’s total visitation figure, Mexican nationals.
Offering opening remarks before the event were Omar Fayed, Governor of Hidalgo; Alejandro Murat Hinojosa, Governor of Oaxaca; Mauricio Vila Dosal, Governor of Yucatán; and Marcela González Salas, Secretary of Culture and Tourism from the State of Mexico. Each spoke on the unique opportunities presented across the country, from science and technology to tourism and industrial diversification.
The Mexico Pavilion is located in the Mobility District, where visitors can immerse themselves in the country’s culture and natural beauty, and follow the migration journey of the Monarch Butterfly, which always returns to Mexico.
There is much to learn about the country’s ancestral traditions and relevant contemporary topics, such as economic innovation, sustainable tourism and entrepreneurship. Through its pavilion story at Expo 2020, Mexico shares an intimate vision of itself and its relationship with the world, and invites us to embark on a nostalgic voyage into the heart of its lands, opening to visitors an array of diverse experiences.
Earlier in the week, a Mexican tall ship, the Cuauhtémoc – fondly known as ‘Ambassador’ and ‘Gentleman of the Seas’ – sailed into Dubai’s Port Rashed in preparation for the National Day celebrations. An expression of friendship and goodwill, the naval vessel has stopped in Panama, the USA, Spain, and Greece as part of its expedition, named ‘Expo 2020 Dubai’. It will continue to Malta, Spain and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, where it will complete its journey on 13 February 2022.
National and Honour Days at Expo 2020 Dubai are moments to celebrate each of our 200-plus International Participants, shining a light on their culture and achievements, and showcasing their pavilions and programming. Each features a flag-raising ceremony at the Stage of Nations in Al Wasl Plaza, followed by speeches and cultural performances.
Running until 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 has invited visitors from across the planet to join the making of a new world in a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture.