Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi confirmed that the first joint ministerial meeting between the GCC states and Northern European countries reflects a shared desire to expand relations between both sides and enhance strategic cooperation at all levels, adding that it also provides a platform for dialogue on various current political, economic, and security issues. This statement was made during the first joint ministerial meeting between the GCC states and Northern European countries, held Wednesday on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA. The meeting was chaired by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, with the participation of Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Foreign Ministers of the GCC states and Northern Europe (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland). In his address, the GCC Secretary General pointed out the increasing growth i n trade volume between the GCC states and the Scandinavian countries, with trade exchanges exceeding $9 billion in 2022. Additionally, direct investment flows from Scandinavian countries to the GCC amounted to $3.6 billion in the same year, he added. He affirmed that these figures herald promising prospects for enhancing cooperation in the fields of renewable energy, technology, and infrastructure, meeting the aspirations of both sides. Albudaiwi further said that the ministerial meeting reflects the commitment of both sides to enhance cooperation in areas of economic development and sustainable growth, noting that these efforts are driven by a comprehensive strategic vision, where the political, security, economic, and cultural dimensions serve as the fundamental pillars of this cooperation. The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council also addressed regional and international challenges, including escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Israeli war on Gaza, instability in the Red Sea, expand ing conflicts in southern Lebanon, and the proliferation of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, all of which pose a serious threat to global security and peace. He called for a unified and steadfast stance to confront these challenges. Source: Qatar News Agency

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi confirmed that the first joint ministerial meeting between the GCC states and Northern European countries reflects a shared desire to expand relations between both sides and enhance strategic cooperation at all levels, adding that it also provides a platform for dialogue on various current political, economic, and security issues. This statement was made during the first joint ministerial meeting between the GCC states and Northern European countries, held Wednesday on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA. The meeting was chaired by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, with the participation of Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Foreign Ministers of the GCC states and Northern Europe (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland). In his address, the GCC Secretary General pointed out the increasing growth i n trade volume between the GCC states and the Scandinavian countries, with trade exchanges exceeding $9 billion in 2022. Additionally, direct investment flows from Scandinavian countries to the GCC amounted to $3.6 billion in the same year, he added. He affirmed that these figures herald promising prospects for enhancing cooperation in the fields of renewable energy, technology, and infrastructure, meeting the aspirations of both sides. Albudaiwi further said that the ministerial meeting reflects the commitment of both sides to enhance cooperation in areas of economic development and sustainable growth, noting that these efforts are driven by a comprehensive strategic vision, where the political, security, economic, and cultural dimensions serve as the fundamental pillars of this cooperation. The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council also addressed regional and international challenges, including escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Israeli war on Gaza, instability in the Red Sea, expand ing conflicts in southern Lebanon, and the proliferation of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, all of which pose a serious threat to global security and peace. He called for a unified and steadfast stance to confront these challenges. Source: Qatar News Agency