Finance and National Economy Minister chairs Preparatory Meeting of Arab Economic and Social Council

Manama, Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the Finance and National Economy Minister, chaired the Preparatory meeting of the Economic and Social Council at the ministerial level for the 33rd Arab Summit to be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, and senior officials attended the meeting. In his remarks at the meeting, Shaikh Salman highlighted the support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the efforts of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Prime Minister, for advancing Arab joint action. The minister said that the Bahrain Summit aims to bolster Arab unity, foster development, and pave the way for a prosperous and sustainable future for Arab nations. Shaikh Salman expressed confidence that through joint Arab cooperation and the enhancement of economic and social integration, the aspirations of future generations towards prosperity and development can be achieved. In his speech, the minister welcomed the Arab delegations to the preparatory meeting which coincided with the silver jubilee of the accession of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Shaikh Salman commended the efforts of Saudi Arabia during its presidency of the previous session of the Arab League Council, praising the valuable and tangible initiatives of the session. The minister expressed appreciation to the Secretary-General and all members of the General Secretariat for their tireless efforts in preparing for the meetings in Bahrain. Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa emphasised that the current global challenges necessitated a unified Arab effort to further enhance economic and social integration in the region. He said this can be achieved by supporting infrastructure, transport, energy, and food security projects that strengthen the Arab world's economic capacity and contribute to furthering Arab integration. In line with Bahrain's steadfast position on supporting key regional issues, the minister called for immediate intervention to deliver urgen t aid to the Gaza Strip, prevent the escalation of further military operations, protect the lives of innocent civilians, and maintain regional security, peace, and stability. The Finance and National Economy Minister emphasised that collaboration between Arab states, international financial institutions, and specialised organisations is crucial to address the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Palestine. He noted that this collective effort must support a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace process in the Middle East, ensuring that the Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights. Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa expressed confidence that joint Arab cooperation and the enhancement of economic and social integration will help achieve prosperity and development. This involves leveraging Arab successes in areas such as digital transformation, innovation, financial technology, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), to bolster and advance sustainable economic and social development. The meeting discussed the topics of the agenda and means to further enhance joint Arab cooperation in various domains, including economic, and development projects and programmes. Source: Bahrain News Agency