Tashkent (UNA/QNA) - The State of Qatar participated in the second joint ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the countries of Central Asia, which was held today in Tashkent, the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The State of Qatar's delegation to the meeting was headed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said, in the State of Qatar’s speech during the opening session, that today’s meeting expresses the sincere desire to strengthen relations, and also aims to highlight common priorities and benefit from the capabilities and strengths of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Central Asian countries, by expanding Existing cooperation frameworks, and consolidating our role as success partners for other regions.
He added: “We look forward to discussing the details of the draft treaty of friendship, regional connectivity and cooperation between the GCC countries and the countries of Central Asia during the next stage.”
He stressed that the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council attaches importance to strategic dialogue with the countries of Central Asia and completing plans to enhance cooperation with them, pointing out that the Council repeatedly emphasized this during its recent annual sessions.
He pointed out that the first strategic dialogue in September 2022 constituted an important turning point in the process of cooperation between the two sides, which was crowned by the first historic summit of the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Central Asian countries in July 2023 in Jeddah, stressing everyone’s keenness to continue this process in an effective manner.
He pointed out that the joint ministerial meeting is being held today in light of many global challenges that affect our countries or that our countries can collectively contribute to addressing, which are challenges in various fields from climate change to the global food security crisis and from the terrorist threat to Islamophobia and others.
He stressed that the escalation that the region witnessed during the past days clearly highlights the necessity of continuing effective communication and coordination between the various countries of the region in order to ensure the preservation of regional stability and peace, and the continued emphasis on the joint commitment to the necessity of reducing any escalation that may destabilize this stability or undermine this peace.
He stated, “This escalation highlighted what we have repeatedly warned against since the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip regarding the danger of sliding into a wider cycle of violence in the region and the importance of the tireless efforts that we have constantly made to ensure that this does not happen.”
The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the common challenges in the various political, economic, cultural, commercial, industrial and agricultural fields require everyone to continue coordinated collective action and develop innovative solutions and practical measures, noting that “this is what the joint action plan between the GCC countries and the countries of Central Asia provides for the year.” 2023-2027, which was approved during the first joint ministerial meeting and blessed by the Summit of Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Central Asian States.”
He explained that the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the countries of Central Asia are seeking to achieve the goals of this summit to enhance interconnection between them in all areas of cooperation, develop and study perceptions and proposals in the areas of political and security coordination, strengthen the relations of financial and economic institutions, enhance trade and investment, cooperate in education and vocational training, and exchange experiences in health and other fields. Areas that help achieve sustainable development and achieve the interests of peoples.
He stressed the need to make diligent efforts at the international level to consolidate joint Asian action and strengthen political and strategic relations between the two sides at the collective and bilateral levels.
He stated that the State of Qatar seeks to establish more peace, security and stability at the regional and global levels, through the role it plays as a trusted regional and international mediator in resolving many crises and conflicts through peaceful and diplomatic means, and by exerting good offices in finding just and practical solutions, which is what This was demonstrated recently in the achievement of the armistice agreement for our Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip.
At the end of his speech, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the continued efforts of the State of Qatar to find real momentum towards a peace process with a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue at its core.
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