General Secretariat - Riyadh

His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), stated that the GCC-Brazilian relations are historic and deep-rooted, built on mutual trust and fruitful cooperation. He emphasised that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the joint action plan signed today reflect a sincere and strong desire to enhance the relationship between the two sides.​
This statement was made during the joint ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the GCC and the Federative Republic of Brazil on Monday, September 9, 2024, chaired by His Excellency Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, current President of the Ministerial Council,  with the participation of Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the GCC countries, and in the presence of His Excellency Mr Mauro Vieira, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil.
In his speech at the meeting, His Excellency the GCC Secretary General noted that the inaugural dialogue between the GCC and Brazil signifies the GCC countries' genuine desire and firm belief in the importance of enhancing dialogue and mutual relations to serve their shared goals and interests. He stressed that this dialogue holds strategic implications for achieving regional and international security and stability.
Moreover, His Excellency highlighted the significance of the meeting, especially given its timing amid challenging global circumstances. In the political and security sectors, he called for collaborative efforts and intensified work to reduce escalation and address rising levels of violence and instability facing this region, including nuclear proliferation, ballistic missiles, maritime security threats, freedom of navigation, and combating terrorism and crime.
His Excellency also remarked on the extensive economic relations that serve to enhance growth and mutual benefits, citing that the trade volume between the GCC and Brazil has nearly doubled in recent years, reaching approximately $21.9 billion in 2022. "This accounts for around 1.4% of the GCC's total external merchandise trade, valued at about $1,544.3 billion, encompassing various goods such as oil, gas, iron ore, foodstuffs, and mineral oils, reflecting the mutual importance of cooperation," His Excellency stated.
He affirmed that the strategic dialogue between the GCC and Brazil represents a qualitative leap in bilateral relations. "A Memorandum of Understanding was prepared to facilitate consultations on issues of mutual interest between the GCC and Brazil, outlining mechanisms for strategic dialogue and areas of cooperation, as well as exchange of views on regional and international issues," His Excellency explained.
To establish a suitable framework for this dialogue, work is underway on a joint action plan between the GCC and Brazil for the period 2024-2028. This plan includes cooperation in various fields such as political and security dialogue, economic and educational sectors, health, culture, media, youth, sport, agriculture, and food security.