HE GCCSG: GCC-Chinese Discussions Focus on Ways to Enhance Cooperation Between the Two Sides

His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), confirmed that the Gulf-Chinese discussions addressed ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides, based on strong relations and shared interests, reflecting the outcomes of the first Gulf-Chinese Summit held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in December 2022.

This statement came during the Gulf-Chinese discussions held on Wednesday (September 11, 2024) in Riyadh, where the Chinese side was chaired by Mr Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, while the GCC side was chaired by HE the Secretary General of the GCC.

During the discussions, several topics of mutual interest were addressed, most notably reviewing the latest developments in the free trade negotiations between the member states of the Council and the People’s Republic of China. HE the Secretary General emphasised to the Chinese side the importance of moving forward and concluding these negotiations in the near future. In addition, the discussions included enhancing cooperation between the two sides and ways to develop it in various fields to serve their shared interests and the importance of implementing the Joint Action Plan for 2023–2027.

The session also addressed the exchange of views on a number of regional and international issues, as well as following up on the latest developments in the region, foremost among which is the crisis in Gaza and the serious and ongoing violations by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people. The Chinese side stressed the necessity of working to achieve a ceasefire and implementing all relevant international and UN resolutions.