New York:A joint ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was held at the United Nations Headquarters, coinciding with the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. The meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of GCC and ASEAN, along with GCC Secretary-General Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn.
According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Bahrain, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the current GCC Ministerial Council session, led the GCC delegation. The ASEAN delegation was chaired by Enrique Manalo, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.
Dr. Al Zayani expressed gratitude to ASEAN member states for their solidarity with GCC countries during challenging times and acknowledged their appreciation for the GCC's efforts in dialogue, mediation, and regional stability. He highlighted the progress made since the first GCC-ASEAN meeting in 2023, noting the partnership's significant momentum, which includes two summits and a cooperation framework.
He emphasized the importance of translating this momentum into practical cooperation through initiatives that benefit both regions. The meeting was a platform to assess commitments, set future priorities, and discuss regional and international developments affecting mutual security and prosperity.
The ministers reviewed the cooperation between GCC and ASEAN and discussed ways to enhance the strategic partnership, focusing on political, economic, and development fields. They also addressed ongoing efforts to ensure regional security and stability and discussed various regional and international issues of mutual concern.
The meeting was attended by several notable figures, including Ambassador Jamal Fares Al Rowaiei, Permanent Representative of Bahrain to the United Nations; Ambassador Shaikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Khalifa, Director General of Bilateral Relations; Ambassador Saeed Abdulkhaliq Saeed, Chief of Coordination and Follow-up, and the Minister's accompanying delegation.