His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), affirmed that the First GCC-China Forum on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology represents a real opportunity to enhance joint action between the two sides and exchange experiences on best practices in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, stressing that this forum underscores the importance of the relationship between the GCC countries and China.
This came during HE the Secretary General’s speech at the opening of the forum, held on Monday (April 21, 2025) in Chengdu, the People's Republic of China, in the presence of His Excellency Mr Shan Zhongde, Director of the Atomic Energy Authority of the People's Republic of China.
At the beginning of his speech, HE the Secretary General expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the leadership and people of the People's Republic of China for hosting the first forum on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between the GCC countries and the People's Republic of China, which comes as part of the implementation of the outcomes of the first GCC-China Summit for Cooperation and Development held in December 2022 in Riyadh.
His Excellency also expressed his appreciation for the deep commitment seen from the Chinese side to developing and strengthening bilateral relations with the GCC countries in various fields, as well this valuable hosting, which represents a new step in strengthening joint cooperation.
Commenting further, HE the Secretary General said: “Anyone looking into GCC-Chinese relations will clearly notice the depth of this historical relationship and interests, especially since this relationship witnessed an important event represented by the convening of the first summit between Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC states, and President Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China. This summit, during which the joint action plan between the two sides (2023-2027) was approved, stemming from the deep historical relations and in response to the common desire and firm conviction of the wise leaderships on both sides regarding the necessity of strengthening cooperation in all fields, in pursuit of achieving the common goals and interests of our countries and peoples. This is confirmed by the distinguished relations between the GCC states and the People's Republic of China. This summit also contributed to strengthening political, economic, environmental and cultural coordination between the two sides.”
His Excellency recalled that relations between the Cooperation Council and China are not merely strategic relations, but rather a solid partnership in all fields and areas, reflecting the shared vision of the two sides, underlining that this cooperation has witnessed remarkable development in recent years, driven by continuous dialogue and keenness to promote common interests.
"Joint political coordination works closely between both sides to address political challenges, enhance stability in the Middle East, and support peaceful solutions to regional conflicts, contributing to regional and international security. Economically, the trade relations between the GCC countries and China have witnessed significant growth in recent years, with the People's Republic of China ranking first among the GCC's trading partners, as trade exchanges in 2023 exceeded 279 billion USD," His Excellency stated, adding: "These figures and indicators reflect the enormous potential we can achieve together by enhancing cooperation and integration among us, which the GCC has sought with China by signing more than five agreements and memoranda of understanding for cooperation in many vital and important fields for both parties,"
He also mentioned that cooperation in the field of nuclear energy is one of the most important pillars of partnership between the GCC and China. "This collaboration presents an important opportunity to enhance energy security in our countries and to develop peaceful nuclear capabilities in accordance with the highest international standards," His Excellency said.
"The GCC countries aim to benefit from advanced Chinese expertise in this area, whether through knowledge exchange or developing nuclear infrastructure, thereby enhancing energy security and serving sustainable development goals," His Excellency explained, pointing out: "We reaffirm our continued efforts in environmental protection and green technology, ensuring sustainable development for our peoples. In this context, we emphasise that there are substantial opportunities for cooperation and knowledge exchange between both sides in various sectors, including nuclear medicine, water desalination, and applications of nuclear technology in the industrial sector, especially since the GCC countries have made tangible strides in benefiting from the peaceful uses of nuclear energy,"
Moreover, His Excellency highlighted the numerous efforts made by the GCC countries with the international community to ensure the peaceful use of nuclear energy, particularly in the Middle East.
In concluding his remarks, he expressed hope that this forum would contribute to establishing effective cooperation mechanisms that enhance our countries' capabilities to face future challenges in innovative and safe ways.