Tashkent, April 15, 2024, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, highlighted the significance of the second ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Central Asia countries Strategic Dialogue, currently underway. The objective of the meeting, according to Al-Budaiwi, is to bolster cooperation between the two regions.
The meeting, presided over by Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, and Bakhtiyor Saidov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, brought together foreign ministers from both the GCC and Central Asian countries.
Al-Budaiwi expressed gratitude to the Republic of Uzbekistan for its hospitality and underscored the meeting's importance and distinction. He noted that this gathering follows the summit hosted by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah in July 2023, which laid the groundwork for future cooperation between the GCC and Central Asia. Additionally, the meeting is preparing for the second summit between these regions, scheduled for next year in Samarkand.
The Secretary-General pointed out that the current geopolitical landscape, marked by unprecedented international developments, necessitates enhanced communication and coordination to address potential challenges affecting all parties.
He mentioned that the first ministerial meeting of the Strategic Dialogue took place in September 2022, during which a joint statement was issued affirming a commitment to establishing a robust partnership based on shared values, interests, and historical ties. The cooperation action plan for 2023-2027 was also approved during this meeting, focusing on political, economic, trade, investment, education, health, culture, media, youth, and sports cooperation.
Al-Budaiwi highlighted subsequent meetings held by the GCC General Secretariat to implement the outcomes of the strategic dialogue, including discussions on economy, trade, investment, culture, media, health, and youth.
He emphasized the importance of consultations on political, regional, international, trade, investment, culture, education, scientific research, environment, and health matters to align common visions. The GCC's partnership with Central Asian countries aims to enhance mutual success, promote people-to-people communication, stimulate economic activities, conserve energy, and bolster the digital economy.
