LOC19:36
16:36 GMT
DUBAI, March 30 (KUNA) -- Dubai Expo 2020 Steering Committee Monday called, following consultations with international partners, for postponing the major event for a year due to spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19.
"While everyone involved in Expo 2020 Dubai remains firmly committed, many countries have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and they have expressed a need to postpone Expo's opening by one year, to enable them to overcome this challenge," the committee said in a statement.
"We support the proposal to explore a one-year postponement made by the Steering Committee at todayآ’s meeting. We will follow the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) processes on making the decision to delay Expo 2020," it said.
The BIE will now work with its Member States and Expo 2020 Dubai to establish a change in dates.
A final decision on postponement can only be made by the BIE's General Assembly, which required two-thirds majority to change the date.
Minister of State for international cooperation and Expo 2020 Director General Reem Al-Hashemi said many countries have expressed desire to postpone the event for a year. (end)
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