His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), affirmed that the achievements made in the recent period between the GCC and the Central Asian countries represent a promising beginning for a long-term strategic path based on the mutual interests and shared visions of both sides, and in accordance with the noble directives of Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the GCC states.

This came during the third ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the GCC and Central Asian countries, held on Wednesday (April 16, 2025) in Kuwait City. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Mr Abdullah Ali Al Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait and President of the current session of the Ministerial Council, and His Excellency Mr Bakhtiyor Saidov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and attended by Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the GCC and Central Asian countries.

At the beginning of his speech, HE the Secretary General expressed his deepest thanks and deep gratitude to His Highness Shaikh Meshal Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait, for his blessed efforts and constant support for endeavours to enhance integration, cooperation and GCC partnerships with other countries and groups. He emphasised that this meeting complements the efforts made to strengthen the partnership between the two sides, as relations have witnessed remarkable development in various fields over the past years.

He said: “Since the first summit between the leaders of the GCC and Central Asian countries, held in July 2023 in Jeddah, we have witnessed tangible moves that reflect the seriousness of both sides to translate the summit outcomes into practical steps, in accordance with the joint action plan for the period 2023-2027, which includes vital areas such as political and security dialogue, economy, trade and investment, education, health, culture and media, and youth and sports.”

HE the Secretary General stressed that the implementation of this plan has crystallised through coordination meetings and gatherings that have strengthened cooperation between the two sides and contributed to identifying common priorities.

He welcomed the tripartite agreement between the Republic of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Uzbekistan regarding the demarcation of the trilateral international border, and the signing of the Khujand Declaration on eternal friendship between the three countries. His Excellency also welcomed the peace agreement reached by the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, reiterating the GCC’s full support for all efforts aimed at settling disputes by peaceful means and strengthening platforms for constructive dialogue, based on the GCC's belief that security, stability, and regional cooperation represent essential pillars of a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.

HE the Secretary General further stated: “We cannot ignore the grave violations committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. In this regard, the GCC reiterates its rejection of attempts to Judaise vast areas of the West Bank, including Jerusalem, expel its Palestinian residents, and impose Israeli sovereignty over them. These practices are completely contrary to international law, international humanitarian law, international legitimacy, Security Council resolutions, the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in 2004, and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. From this standpoint, the GCC calls on the international community to assume its responsibilities and exert real pressure on the occupation authorities to reverse these settlement policies.”

Furthermore, His Excellency pointed out the GCC's firm and supportive position towards all regional and international efforts seeking to achieve a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, foremost among which is the initiative launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the “International Coalition for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution”, which was announced in New York on September 26, 2024, in partnership with the Kingdom of Norway and the European Union. He underlined that the Coalition

aims to establish an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and called on all countries that believe in a just peace to join this alliance and recognise the State of Palestine, in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and as a contribution to achieving comprehensive and sustainable peace in the Middle East.

In his speech, HE the Secretary General also addressed the importance of cooperation and partnership between the GCC and the Central Asian countries, which is achieved through the promotion of effective mechanisms that ensure the achievement of our common interests, through joint summits, ministerial meetings, meetings of senior officials, the joint action plan for the period 2023-2027, and the memoranda of understanding signed between the General Secretariat of the GCC and the Central Asian countries to enhance political and economic consultations and develop a sustainable cooperation horizon.

Elaborating further, His Excellency also said: “The challenges facing our world today require us to enhance dialogue and coordination to ensure security and stability and promote sustainable development. From this standpoint, we call for unifying our joint efforts to confront the economic challenges facing the world today, in light of the rapid international changes that require us to strengthen our joint efforts to achieve food security, address climate change, and take advantage of promising opportunities.”

HE the Secretary General reviewed some economic statistics, stating that the volume of trade in goods between the GCC countries and the countries of Central Asia reached approximately USD 10 billion, in addition to investment flows, which is hoped to raise to higher levels in a sustainable manner in the coming years through the implementation of the joint action plan and the directives of both sides’ wise leadership.

“Based on the outcomes of the summit, the first between theGCC and the Central Asian countries in July 2023, a number of ministerial meetings, specialised working groups, and many events were held for the Central Asian countries in a number of areas of common interest, including meetings of finance ministers and central bank governors. Their Excellencies the finance ministers and central bank governors of the GCC countries participated in a coordination meeting with their counterparts from the Central Asian countries, on the sidelines of the World Bank meetings in the United States in October 2024. In confirmation of the deep interest in strengthening economic and financial cooperation, another meeting is scheduled to be held next month in Uzbekistan,” His Excellency stated.

He explained further: “In the field of trade and investment, a meeting of those concerned with the economic aspect was held on July 10, 2023, and the first investment forum was held on May 29, 2024, between the Cooperation Council and the Central Asian countries in Riyadh, organised by the Ministry of Investment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the aim of strengthening economic partnerships and exploring investment opportunities between the two sides. We look forward to holding the second investment forum in Kyrgyzstan on June 30, 2025, and participating in a session on the prospects for relations between both sides at the Astana International Forum in Kazakhstan on May 29, 2025.”

Speaking more on the cultural and media field, HE the Secretary General confirmed that a meeting was held for those concerned with the cultural and media aspect on July 11, 2023, while in the health field, the first meeting of those concerned with the health aspect was held in July 2023, and in the field of youth and sports, a meeting of those concerned with youth and sports was held on July 12, 2023.

He continued: “In the field of transportation, a meeting of those concerned with the civil aviation field was held on January 13, 2025. A joint meeting was held between the Cooperation Council, the Central Asian countries, and the GCC Railways Authority on December 10, 2024. In the political field, a meeting of senior officials of the foreign ministries was held in Tashkent on April 10, 2025, where the most prominent regional and international issues were discussed, in addition to discussing preparations for the second summit scheduled to be held in the city of Samarkand next month.”

“The General Secretariat also participated in a number of events, including monitoring the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Uzbekistan, the opening of the city of Arkadag on July 29, 2023, the international symposium on the Uzbek poet Nizamuddin in Tashkent, and participation in the symposium held by Tajikistan on the contributions of Tajik scholars to Islamic civilisation, in addition to participating in the 13th International Festival of Oriental Music in Samarkand,” His Excellency said during his speech while highlioghting the vast areas of cooperation between the GCC and Central Asian countries.

He further addressed cooperation in the field of sustainable development, announcing that the General Secretariat participated in the Third High-Level International Conference on the International Decade "Water and Sustainable Development 2019-2028", held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in addition to attending the "Central Asia Facing Climate Challenges" conference held in Samarkand, in addition to participating in the preparations being made by Kyrgyzstan to host the Second Investment Forum between the GCC and the Central Asian Countries, as well as participating in the "Arab and Central Asian Businessmen Conference" held in Abu Dhabi.

His Excellency pointed out that these participations embody the GCC's keenness to build bridges of cooperation and dialogue with the Central Asian countries, reflecting its commitment to its effective regional and international role, and its readiness to continue expanding partnerships that serve common interests.

HE the Secretary General also praised the positions of the Central Asian countries on issues in the Middle East, which have received deep appreciation and respect from the GCC, stressing that these positions have been characterised by balance and sincere support, embodying a profound understanding of the importance of solidarity in finding effective solutions to regional and international crises.

In this regard, he further said: “On more than one occasion, the Central Asian countries have expressed their support for Arab issues, foremost among them the Palestinian cause, and have supported United Nations resolutions aimed at ending the occupation and achieving a just and lasting peace, based on international legitimacy resolutions.”

In conclusion of his speech, His Excellency expressed the GCC's eager anticipation of the second summit between the leaders of the GCC and Central Asian countries on May 5, 2025, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, adding that this summit represents a major milestone in the distinguished relations between the two sides, and expressing belief that it will contribute to further achievements and progress in various areas of cooperation.

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