GCC Sec Gen participates in first GCC-Northern European countries Joint Ministerial Meeting

New York, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), participated in the first joint ministerial meeting between the GCC states and Northern European countries, held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting was chaired by Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, who is currently presiding over the ministerial council, with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of the GCC states and Northern Europe (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland). The Secretary General 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. In his address, Albudaiwi noted that this meeting reflects the mu tual desire to expand relations and enhance strategic cooperation between the GCC states and the Scandinavian countries in order to address current political, economic, and security challenges. He pointed out the increasing growth in 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. The Secretary General 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 added 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 pilla rs of this cooperation. He also addressed regional and international challenges, including escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Israeli war on Gaza, instability in the Red Sea, expanding 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: Bahrain News Agency