His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), affirmed that the third joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and the Arab Republic of Egypt represents another milestone in the many steps taken by both sides to strengthen the historical brotherly relations that unite the member states of the Council and Egypt in order to support and develop the strategic partnership at all levels.
This statement came during the third joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and the Arab Republic of Egypt, held on Thursday (March 6, 2025), in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, chaired by His Excellency Mr Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait and current President of the Ministerial Council, and attended by Their Highnesses and Excellencies, the Foreign Ministers of the GCC member states, along with His Excellency Dr Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Egyptians Abroad of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
At the beginning of his speech, HE the Secretary General expressed his profound gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for hosting this meeting near the Holy Mosque, and for the facilities and support provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure the success of the joint meetings with brotherly and friendly nations.
He also highlighted the support and interest shown by the Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the GCC member states. Furthermore, he expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for the generous hospitality and warm reception, and for the exceptional organisation and preparation of this meeting.
HE the Secretary General stated during his address: “Today’s meeting takes place amid complex regional and international conditions, primarily concerning developments in the Palestinian Cause. The alarming escalation and ongoing violations faced by the Palestinian people represent a blatant threat to their identity and rights, which we categorically reject. We urge the international community to take responsibility for halting these practices that undermine security and stability.”
His Excellency further extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the current President of the Council of the Arab League at the summit level, for His Majesty’s relentless efforts and commendable endeavours to convene the extraordinary Arab summit (the Palestine Summit) held on March 4, 2025, in Cairo.
HE the Secretary General also expressed his highest gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, for hosting the extraordinary Arab summit (the Palestine Summit), which reflects the unwavering commitment and support that the Arab Republic of Egypt has provided to the Palestinian cause since the outbreak of the occupation in 1948.
He affirmed his support for the summit’s outcomes, which endorsed a plan for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, the deployment of international protection and peacekeeping forces as per a Security Council resolution in Palestinian territories, and the decision to hold an international conference for recovery and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, in cooperation with the State of Palestine and the United Nations.
Moreover, HE the Secretary General urged the international community to participate in this initiative to accelerate the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Gaza after the destruction caused by Israeli aggression, emphasising that the future of Gaza should be within the framework of a unified Palestinian state and the implementation of the two-state solution. He reiterated his rejection of placing any burden on the Arab Republic of Egypt due to inhumane and unjust calls for the displacement of the Palestinian people.
“Stemming from the deep historical relations and shared cultural heritage, and in response to the mutual desire and firm conviction of the wise leadership on both sides, there is a need to enhance cooperation in all fields, striving to achieve the objectives and mutual interests of our nations and peoples. This is further emphasised by the brotherly relations between the GCC member states and the Arab Republic of Egypt. The Joint Action Plan between the GCC and the Arab Republic of Egypt for the period 2024-2028 was approved at the second joint ministerial meeting held in March 2024, serving as a roadmap for cooperation between both sides in all areas of mutual interest. We look forward to reaping the fruits of this plan through meetings, conferences, seminars and workshops involving senior officials from both the Gulf and Egyptian sides across various important fields, such as agriculture, energy, clean and renewable energy, industry, cultural and academic cooperation, and many other sectors,” HE the Secretary General commented.
His Excellency also announced that the “Trade and Investment Forum between the GCC and the Arab Republic of Egypt” will be held this year in Egypt, aiming to enhance economic and trade relations between the two sides and provide a platform for investors to explore promising investment opportunities across various economic sectors in Egypt, as well as address the challenges facing GCC investors in the country, in line with the joint action plan.
He concluded his speech by underscoring the importance that the GCC member states place on dialogue and strategic partnership with the Arab Republic of Egypt, expressing a desire to enhance and develop these relations across all areas.
