Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, was in attendance at Milan Expo 2015 this week.

He was welcomed at the Etihad Airways and Alitalia pavilion – the airlines are the official carriers for the global fair.

Sheikh Abdullah was given a tour by Abdul Qader Hussein Ahmed, Etihad's vice president of government and international affairs, as well as members of the airline's Emirati graduate management programme, who are part of the on-site team at the Milan Expo.

Highlights of the pavilion include a multimedia hub and live cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs.

Visitors can also test their piloting skills on two fully operational flight simulators, along with a dedicated area for children.

Milan Expo 2015 is taking place under the theme of "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”, from May 1 until October 31.

Twenty million visitors are expected to attend from around the world.

As official carriers, Etihad Airways and Alitalia are expected to play key roles in bringing visitors to Milan, with an estimated eight million travelling to the event by air.