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Saudi Arabia to Host Arab Summit on May 19

A view shows vehicles driving on the street in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (File photo: Reuters)
A view shows vehicles driving on the street in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (File photo: Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia to Host Arab Summit on May 19

A view shows vehicles driving on the street in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (File photo: Reuters)
A view shows vehicles driving on the street in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (File photo: Reuters)

The 32nd Arab summit will be held in Saudi Arabia on May 19, announced the General Secretariat of the Arab League.

The League’s assistant secretary general, Hossam Zaki, said the decision came after consultations between Sec-Gen Ahmed Aboul Gheit and the Saudi government.

He indicated that Saudi Arabia welcomed hosting the summit on the specified date.

Zaki said that "the summit will be preceded by several preparatory meetings between senior officials and ministers over five days.”

The League indicated that 2023 is expected to witness the Arab development summit in Mauritania and the Arab-African summit in Saudi Arabia.

Aboul Gheit suggested in press statements during his visit to Lebanon that the main topic of the summit should focus on economic issues and helping the neediest Arab regions.

Earlier, spokesperson Gamal Roushdy confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that consultations are underway between the Arab League and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to develop the best possible agenda of issues at the forefront of joint Arab action.

Roushdy explained that the discussions often continue until the summit's date next May to address all the developments.

The official spokesman expected that the Palestinian issue would be at the forefront of the points on the summit's agenda, being a central issue of the Arabs. He also indicated that the recent developments in the occupied territories, including the Israeli violations, would be addressed at the summit.

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GCC-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue Focuses on Strengthening Cooperation

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
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GCC-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue Focuses on Strengthening Cooperation

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA

Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers and their counterparts from Central Asia discussed in Kuwait on Wednesday consolidating cooperation in several fields.

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue focused on enhancing the strong relations between the GCC and Central Asian countries and discussed a joint action plan to advance cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, and tourism sectors.
Preparations were also reviewed for the upcoming summit between the GCC and Central Asian countries, scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, next month. This summit follows the inaugural one held in Saudi Arabia in 2023.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attended the meeting.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya said the meeting marks a significant milestone in establishing a sustainable partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests.

Speaking at a joint press conference with GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi after the meeting, Al-Yahya, current President of the GCC Ministerial Council, highlighted the growing historical, cultural, and human ties between the two regions, and emphasized the shared political will to strengthen strategic cooperation.

The meeting focused on several key areas of priority, including enhancing economic and trade cooperation, encouraging investment, and developing sectors such as transport and energy, clean energy transitions, green economies, and modern technologies, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.

Discussions also focused on food and water security, digital infrastructure, and artificial intelligence, aiming to support stability and sustainable development.

On political and security matters, the foreign minister stressed the importance of consultation and coordination on shared challenges, especially in combating terrorism, extremism, and cyber threats, and praised the GCC Secretariat for its role in advancing joint action mechanisms.

Regarding regional and international issues, Al-Yahya reaffirmed the GCC's steadfast support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital.

On his part, Al-Budaiwi said that both the GCC and Central Asian states are committed to advancing cooperation across various sectors, as outlined in the Joint Action Plan for 2023-27.

He stated that the meeting included an exchange of views on regional and global developments, particularly the Israeli occupation's violations against the Palestinian people, and reiterated the GCC's rejection of these violations and called on the international community to act decisively in support of Palestinian rights, including the establishment of a sovereign state.