Manama:The Kingdom of Bahrain recently hosted the 30th Meeting of GCC Ministers of Culture in Manama, coinciding with its presidency of the 46th session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The meeting took place on Thursday, November 5, and was chaired by Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities. Attendees included GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Their Highnesses, Excellencies the Ministers of Culture, and accompanying delegations.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Shaikh Khalifa welcomed the ministers and delegations, praising the GCC General Secretariat's efforts in promoting Gulf integration and supporting initiatives that benefit the region's peoples. He highlighted the importance of exchanging views and coordinating efforts to address rapid developments and emerging challenges effectively.
The meeting provided a platform for discussing joint cultural initiatives and strengthening partnerships among cultural institutions across GCC member states. It emphasized the GCC's commitment to using culture as a means of uniting its peoples and engaging globally. Albudaiwi expressed gratitude to Bahrain for hosting the meeting and commended the efforts of the GCC Ministers of Culture in advancing the region's cultural movement.
During the event, the GCC Secretary-General congratulated honored creative figures for their contributions to fostering dialogue and cultural exchange. He noted the significance of cultural development within GCC member states, reflected in thriving cultural institutions and initiatives, underscoring the importance given by GCC leaders to culture as a component of human development and identity strengthening.
The agenda included reviewing recommendations from the General Cultural Committee's preparatory meeting and discussing matters of common interest, such as joint cultural events, cultural statistics, book fairs, translation and Arabisation, and international cultural cooperation. The meeting concluded with recommendations and decisions aimed at enhancing cultural cooperation among GCC member states.
Following the meeting, a ceremony was held to honor Gulf cultural figures and creative talents, recognizing their contributions to the region's cultural landscape in art, literature, theatre, cinema, and other areas of creativity.