ABU DHABI - Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, received yesterday morning at the Ministry's offices in Abu Dhabi, Surangel Whipps, Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, and his accompanying delegation, who are on an official visit to the UAE.

The meeting discussed cultural relations between the UAE and Palau, cooperation in the field of protecting the heritage of humanity, and the country’s efforts in raising cultural awareness about Palau, which is an archipelago of 340 islands in the western Pacific Ocean and enjoys the highest marine biodiversity in the world.

Many issues related to the protection of human heritage and the efforts made by the Republic of Palau to promote responsible and sustainable eco-and cultural tourism were discussed, in light of the challenges faced by island nations due to climate change.

During the meeting, Al Kaabi affirmed the UAE's support for the Republic of Palau in its endeavour to mitigate the effects of climate change on the island state’s heritage sites and contribute to the preservation of its cultural assets that make a significant part of the heritage of humanity.

She further stated that protecting heritage from the scourge of climate change will be among the issues discussed during COP28 to be held in the UAE in November this year.

In April 2022, UNESCO launched an emergency plan during the “Our Ocean Conference” held in Palau, to protect and conserve the coral reefs inscribed on the World Heritage List. Palau has about 500 species of coral which are home to more than 1,300 different species of fish and constitute a significant part of world human heritage.