Nahyan receives UNDP chief

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, received on Sunday at his palace Helen Clark, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, in attendance of Mr. Sayed Agha, U.N. Resident Co-ordinator and UNDP Resident Representative. Sheikh Nahyan reviewed with the head of the UNDP a variety of issues regarding culture, health and education, underscoring the UAE's commitment under the leadership to comprehensive development and introduction of technology to achieve administrative, occupational and societal development. He said the UAE has adopted a for-ward looking strategy that has enabled it to reach advanced levels in scientific, academic, cultural and administrative progress. He said that the friendly international relations and opening up to other cultures were behind the UAE's story. He also noted to the UAE's delivery of many Millennium Development Goals in areas of education, health, family care and others. The UN official commended the balanced policy the UAE is adopting to approach other cultures of the world while preserving its indigenous culture and heritage like camel racing and falconry. She also praised the active cultural events, in particular film festivals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which she said, were attracting more Emirati budding filmmaker into the industry.