New york: Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, took part in a joint ministerial meeting at the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations in New York. This meeting was a collaboration between the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and the French Republic, occurring alongside the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the GCC delegation was led by Abdullah Ali Al Yahya, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait and Chairman of the current session of the Ministerial Council. Meanwhile, the French delegation was headed by Jean No«l Barrot, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, with Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the GCC, also in attendance.
The discussions between the ministers revolved around the longstanding ties between the GCC and France, highlighting progress in political, economic, and trade relations. The dialogue aimed at exploring avenues to bolster cooperation in various sectors, aligning with the mutual interests and aspirations of both entities.
Additionally, the ministers addressed regional developments, focusing on their implications for security and stability. There was an emphasis on expanding collaboration and coordination to tackle present challenges, such as the conflict in Gaza, safeguarding international navigation, and striving for comprehensive peace in the region.
At the meeting, the success of the international two-state solution conference held at the UN was acknowledged. The ministers noted the recognition of the State of Palestine by several countries and stressed the importance of continuing collective efforts to gain further international acknowledgment of the Palestinian state.
The meeting was also attended by Ambassador Jamal Faris Al Ruwaie, Permanent Representative of Bahrain to the UN in New York, and Ambassador Khaled Yousef Al Jalahma, Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.