(KUNA): Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa asserted importance on uniting joint work and viable cooperation among GCC countries, including coordination in security, economy, and political fields.
Prince Khalifa made his remarks during his reception of Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation of foreign affairs committee headed by MP Mohammad Al-Saqer, noting as well importance of cooperation between constitutional institutes, being an essential step toward GCC union, which people of the GCC are looking for.
“Coordination of policies and stances among GCC countries with regard to important political developments and regional and international challenges requires a joint understanding on governmental and parliamentary levels,” Prince Khalifa said.
Earlier, Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa received Al-Saqer and his accompanying delegation.
Sheikh Khalid welcomed the Kuwaiti delegation, stressing significance of exchanging visits in boosting GCC parliamentary cooperation and coordinating stances regarding regional and international issues.
On his part, MP Al-Saqer reiterated his country’s support and keenness on Bahrain’s security and stability, being an integral part of GCC security.
Al-Saqer affirmed as well importance of cooperation between the two legislative branches.
Meanwhile, the Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held a celebration in Riyadh Sunday evening to mark its 31st anniversary, in the presence of the council’s Secretary General Dr Abdullatif Al-Zayyani.
The ceremony, patronized and attended by Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz, gathered a number of Arab and foreign diplomats in Saudi Arabia as well as several Saudi government and public figures.
Speaking to reporters on the occasion, Dr Al-Zayyani extolled the leaders of the GCC six member states for their perseverance in founding the council and their efforts to protect the security and stability of the Arabian Gulf region.
“The challenges faced by the GCC over the last three decades only strengthened the resolve of the GCC leaders to advance the process of regional integration and the noble targets of unity and shared prosperity and development,” he said.
“Through its ministerial council, the GCC strives to assert itself as a key player in the regional and international affairs and makes great strides towards integration. The council adopted crucial calculated steps in the field of economic development such as the economic unity agreement, the common market, the customs union and the monetary union.
“It made headway in strategic projects such as the Arabian Gulf University, the power grid hookup and GCC railway network,” Dr Al-Zayyani noted.
He stated that the achievements made by the Council since its inception are a source of pride for the nationals of all its member states.
Dr Al-Zayyani praised the initiative of Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for the GCC metamorphosis from cooperation stage into union.
The dignitaries who attended the ceremony included Undersecretary of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral Relations Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Kabeer, President of Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, President of Saudi Wildlife Authority Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Mohammed, and Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thunayan.
