The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and China have agreed a joint action plan for 2023-2027 to strengthen the strategic partnership between the GCC and China.

 

The GCC and China aim to push the relations towards new horizons in various political, economic and cultural fields, it was announced following a summit in Riyadh chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia and Xi Jinping, President of China, a Saudi Press Agency report said. 

 

The summit, held at the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, was attended by HH Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah; His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain; HH Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs of Oman; HH Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar; HH Shaikh Mishaal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait; and Dr Nayef Falah M Al Hajraf, Secretary General of the GCC.

 

The leaders directed the continuation of the strategic dialogue between the two sides at all levels to discuss issues of common concern and coordinate positions on them, support international economic recovery efforts, address the negative economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic and other challenges, work to ensure flexibility of supply chains, security of food and energy supplies, and advance building cooperation relations in developing clean energy sources and technologies, assisting countries most in need and contributing to meeting their humanitarian needs.

 

The leaders stressed the importance of continuing to deepen cooperation between the two sides in the fields of energy, trade, investment, finance, industry, advanced technology, space and health, in the common interest of both sides, including completing free trade negotiations between them as soon as possible.

 

The leaders expressed their keenness to promote dialogue between civilizations, communication and mutual benefit between different cultures, and to preserve cultural diversity. They emphasized that tolerance and coexistence between nations and peoples are among the most important principles and values upon which the international community is based. They encouraged communication and cooperation between the two sides in the fields of culture, education, tourism, media and sports, friendly exchange between intellectual institutions and rapprochement between peoples.