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GCC, South Korea Conclude 5th Round of FTA Negotiations

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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GCC, South Korea Conclude 5th Round of FTA Negotiations

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and South Korea concluded in Riyadh on Thursday the fifth round of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA), reported the Saudi Press Agency.

The two sides launched their negotiations on June 6, during which they tackled many topics aimed at increasing the flow of intra-trade, boosting investments, and opening global markets to the exports of the GCC member states.

General Coordinator of Negotiations and Head of the GCC Negotiating Team, Abdurrahman bin Ahmed Al-Harbi stated that such agreements are in line with the directives of the leaders of GCC member states that aim at strengthening the position of the Council and supporting its strategic relations with its partners around the world.

He said the agreement, which is under negotiation, will help bolster common gains, stimulate economic, commercial and investment growth in the GCC countries, support entrepreneurship and strengthen the business sectors in the GCC countries.

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Saudi Arabia Affirms Unwavering Support for Global Humanitarian Efforts

The Saudi capital Riyadh. AFP file photo
The Saudi capital Riyadh. AFP file photo
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Saudi Arabia Affirms Unwavering Support for Global Humanitarian Efforts

The Saudi capital Riyadh. AFP file photo
The Saudi capital Riyadh. AFP file photo

Saudi Arabia affirmed its unwavering commitment to support global humanitarian issues and its contributions to alleviating the suffering of those affected by wars and disasters.

In a statement delivered at the UN Economic and Social Council, the Kingdom's permanent representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila, indicated that Saudi Arabia, despite global economic challenges, continues its generous approach as one of the largest donor countries in the humanitarian and development fields.

The ambassador explained that humanitarian crises have become exacerbated by the increase in armed conflicts and the decline in adherence to international humanitarian law, emphasizing that addressing the root causes of crises is crucial to alleviating human suffering.

He emphasized that Saudi Arabia's participation in the global initiative launched by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to reaffirm commitment to international humanitarian law, along with its hosting of multiple peace talks between conflicting parties, reflects its strong belief in the importance of dialogue as a means to achieve lasting peace.

Regarding the Palestinian issue, bin Khothaila explained that Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the serious violations and war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the brotherly Palestinian people. He emphasized that preventing humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip and using it as a tool of war constitutes a flagrant violation of international law. He reiterated Saudi Arabia's call for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire.

The ambassador noted that a peace conference, co-chaired with the French Republic, had been scheduled for June 2025 as part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts within the Global Coalition to advance the two-state solution. However, recent regional developments have led to its postponement.

He emphasized the importance of integrating relief and development in addressing crises, pointing to Saudi Arabia's integrated model through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).