September 07, 2022
HH Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs, chaired the first joint ministerial meeting of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and Central Asia, which was held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Gulf States in the capital, Riyadh.
At the beginning of the meeting, His Highness the Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomed Their Highnesses and Excellencies participating in the first meeting in their second country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, praising the interest and interaction of the participating countries in strengthening joint relations and taking them towards broader horizons.
During the opening speech, His Highness stressed the importance of intensifying joint cooperation between the Gulf states and Central Asian countries in light of the challenges the world is witnessing, pointing to the importance of supporting all efforts aimed at reducing regional and international political tensions, taking into account respect for international standards, and creating conditions for promoting recovery sustainable economics.
His Highness the Minister said that the Gulf countries and Central Asia have many enormous potentials that will enhance the growth and development of countries, pointing to the strategic position and diversity of natural resources, as well as human capital, that the countries of the region possess.
His Highness promised the keen interest of the Gulf countries and the Central Asian countries to discuss the available opportunities in the fields of trade, investment, tourism, energy, and other fields, as a starting point towards strengthening joint cooperation, prosperity, and growth for the countries and peoples of the two regions.
His Highness the Minister also pointed to the importance of strengthening cooperation between the Gulf states and Central Asian countries in the face of pressing global challenges, such as food security, energy security, improving preparedness for epidemics, and dealing with the effects of climate change.
His Highness the Minister clarified that the ministerial meeting of the Gulf and Central Asian countries is of great importance for exchanging views on regional and international developments of common interest, to support stability and strengthen the foundations of security in the Gulf and Central Asia, and international peace and security.
At the conclusion of his speech, His Highness reiterated the importance of continuous cooperation between the Gulf countries and the countries of Central Asia, looking forward that the joint action plan (2023-2026), prepared by the participating countries in the meeting, would contribute to realizing the hopes and aspirations of the countries and peoples of the region.
