VIDEO: GCC’s economic integrity key to growth, says Sheikh Mohammed
Sheikh Mohammed being received by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday. Twitter photo
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, led a UAE delegation to the 42nd meeting of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council on Tuesday.
Prior to the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed said, “We need a strong start for the fifth decade of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s march... Our people are looking forward to economic and development integration... Our people are looking for real and deep cooperation... Our people are waiting from our meetings in Riyadh for the results of transforming all our cities into growth, prosperity and progress.”
Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia, said, “We meet today, four decades after the establishment of the Council, in light of the many challenges facing our region that require us to further coordinate efforts to enhance our interdependence and the security and stability of our countries.
“In this regard, we refer to the vision presented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and stress the importance of implementing the remaining steps and completing the elements of economic unity and the common defense and security systems in a way that enhances our regional and international role through unifying our political positions and developing partnerships with the international community.
“We commend the keenness that we witnessed during our visits to the sisterly GCC states, and we also commend the commitment and solidarity that led to the success of the outputs of the Al-Ula statement issued on January 5, 2021.
“We are looking forward today to completing the building of a prosperous economic bloc, and this requires creating an attractive and stimulating environment that depends on diversifying sources of income, unleashing the potential of our promising economic sectors, keeping pace with technical developments in all fields, and finding a balance to achieve security and stability in global energy markets.
“In order to deal with the phenomenon of climate change by providing the world with clean energy and supporting innovation and development, the Kingdom launched the Green Saudi Initiatives and the Green Middle East, and announced its goal to reach zero neutrality in 2060 through the circular carbon economy approach.
“The Kingdom stresses the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities towards the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of its independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international references.
“The Kingdom continues to make all efforts to enhance security and stability in the region, and also supports political solutions and dialogue to resolve conflicts.
“The Crown Prince: We look forward to brotherly Iraq completing the procedures for forming a government capable of continuing to work for the security, stability and development of Iraq, and we affirm our continued support for the efforts of the UN envoy to reach a political solution to the Yemeni crisis in accordance with the three references and the Kingdom’s initiative to end the Yemeni crisis.
“The Kingdom stresses the importance of dealing seriously and effectively with the Iranian nuclear and missile program in a way that contributes to achieving regional and international security and stability.
“The Kingdom is following the developments of the situation in Afghanistan and urges joint regional and international efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people, and that Afghanistan not be a haven for terrorist organizations.
“The Council has made great achievements since its establishment, and we look forward to achieving more to advance the joint Gulf action and in a way that enhances the Council’s march at all levels.”
