GCC Praises OPEC’s Role in Supporting Oil Market Stability

Jasem AlBudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), receives Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC. (OPEC’s LinkedIn account)
Jasem AlBudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), receives Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC. (OPEC’s LinkedIn account)
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GCC Praises OPEC’s Role in Supporting Oil Market Stability

Jasem AlBudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), receives Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC. (OPEC’s LinkedIn account)
Jasem AlBudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), receives Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC. (OPEC’s LinkedIn account)

Jasem AlBudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), praised on Tuesday OPEC’s role in supporting oil market stability.
AlBudaiwi made his remarks as he received OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais, according to OPEC’s LinkedIn account.
The two men explored possible ways to enhance cooperation between OPEC and the GCC. They also discussed a number of issues related to the energy sector, including energy transitions, the importance of energy security, and the need for continuous investments.
A recent study of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System has concluded that OPEC’s credible decisions and research ensure the oil markets’ stability.
“We find that OPEC communication reduces oil price volatility and prompts market participants to rebalance their positions,” according to the study published on the Banks’ website.
“Our analysis indicates that market participants assess OPEC communications as providing an important signal to the crude oil market,” the study added.
OPEC on Tuesday stuck to its forecast for relatively strong growth in global oil demand in 2024 and 2025 and raised its economic growth forecasts for both years saying there was further upside potential.
In a monthly report, it said world oil demand will rise by 2.25 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024 and by 1.85 million bpd in 2025. Both forecasts were unchanged from last month.

 

 

 

 



China’s President Xi Says Tariffs and Trade Wars Hurt World Economic Order 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, applauds during a signing ceremony with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at The Great Hall of The People on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Beijing. (Iori Sagisawa/Pool Photo via AP) 
Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, applauds during a signing ceremony with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at The Great Hall of The People on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Beijing. (Iori Sagisawa/Pool Photo via AP) 
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China’s President Xi Says Tariffs and Trade Wars Hurt World Economic Order 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, applauds during a signing ceremony with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at The Great Hall of The People on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Beijing. (Iori Sagisawa/Pool Photo via AP) 
Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, applauds during a signing ceremony with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at The Great Hall of The People on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Beijing. (Iori Sagisawa/Pool Photo via AP) 

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that tariff and trade wars undermine the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, hurt the multilateral trading system and impact the world economic order, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Xi made the comments during a meeting with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in Beijing, where he said that China is willing to work with Azerbaijan to safeguard the international system and carry out "in depth" law enforcement and security cooperation with the Azerbaijan side.

"China is ready to work with the Azerbaijan side to uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core...and safeguard international fairness and justice," Xinhua said.

The two leaders announced "the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Azerbaijan". It included the signing of 20 cooperation documents as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), in areas including legal, green development, digital economy, intellectual property rights, and aerospace.

Bordering Iran, Russia, Georgia and Armenia, Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to support China's BRI initiative. It was launched in 2013 by Xi as a way to extend China's geopolitical and economic influence through a global infrastructure development push.

Aliyev is on a state visit to China from April 22-24.