Oman at meeting of GCC leaders and summit with Central Asian countries.
In the service of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, His Highness Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Special Representative of His Majesty, headed the delegation of the Sultanate of Oman at the 18th consultative meeting of the leaders of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and the Gulf summit with the countries of Central Asia, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.today.
The summit was chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In his opening speech Prince Mohammed said the summit embodies the Gulf’s long-standing ties with the countries of Central Asia.
The challenges facing the world require a unified effort, he added, emphasising the importance of the joint action plan between the countries of the Gulf and Central Asia.
In his speech, Sayyid Asaad said the great potential and resources of the countries of the two regions provide an opportunity to enhance cooperation, in a way that brings mutual benefits and achieves sustainable development. especially in the fields of economy, investment and trade,
At the beginning of his speech, His Highness conveyed the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and his good wishes for the summit meeting. Sayyid Asaad said His Majesty’s aspiration was that the meeting should be a new beginning to strengthen and consolidate relations between the countries of the Gulf and Central Asia.
His Highness added: “We commend the progress and development seen in Gulf relations with the countries of Central Asia. We look forward in the next stage to securing various achievements, in order to activate the agreements and memoranda of understanding between our countries and the joint action plan for strategic dialogue and cooperation for the period 2023-2027.”
His Highness said that that bringing together the GCC and Central Asian countries to further their common interests and concerns requires more communication and collective coordination in international forums
Speaking about efforts to establish security, stability and peace, His Highness added: “We also greatly appreciate the position of the Central Asian countries in support of just Arab causes.
“The foremost of these is the Palestinian cause and the need for the Palestinian people to obtain their right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, as stipulated in international resolutions and the Arab peace initiative,” he said.
The summit discussed strengthening cooperation and coordination in various fields, in light of the growing regional and international interest in the five Central Asian countries. The summit noted that the location, geostrategic importance and natural resources of these countries gives them great potential for development.
Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, said that the Summit of the Gulf and Central Asia States reflects a common desire to develop relations. He said he hoped the summit will contribute to strengthening partnerships between the Gulf countries and Central Asia in all fields.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan said the Central Asian Countries had implemented a visa-free entry system for the Gulf countries to enhance tourism cooperation between them and the GCC countries. He also spoke of the need to take actual steps to confront Islamophobia, extremism and racism in the world.
Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, called for the establishment of a special fund for investment within the framework of the Islamic Action Organisation for the benefit of Islamic countries. He said he aspired to bring Gulf investments to Central Asian countries and to establish an investment fund between the Gulf and Central Asia in light of their common historical and cultural relations.
Sayyid Asaad was accompanied by an official delegation that includes: Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, Foreign Minister; Engineer Said bin Hamood Al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology; Dr Said bin Mohammed Al Saqri, Minister of Economy; His Highness Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al Said, Oman's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the advisors in Sayyid Asaad's office.