The gesture of a “handshake” represents the legitimization of various deals and agreements. By holding each other’s hand, the partners demonstrate their consent to collaborate and also their most sincere and serious intentions. Building bridges between different cultures through dialogue and collaboration is still the best way to approach that goal.

The theme for the year 2008 was "Bridging Cultures through Dialogue".

The sign of holding hands is the universal symbol of friendship, agreement, and true affection. This could be the beginning of a love dialogue between a woman and man. The female's legs can be spotted inside the carriage which is approaching the man on the motorbike.

Boris Pasternak

Winter Night

Up on the ceiling, shadows stirred,

Vivid and fleeting,

But where hands met and then legs met

Two fates were meeting.