Riyadh: Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, received Zhai Jun, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue, at the General Secretariat’s headquarters in Riyadh. The GCC Secretary General expressed appreciation for the People’s Republic of China’s stance in condemning the Iranian attacks on GCC states and for China’s efforts with all parties to halt the war and stop Iranian military aggressions against the Council states, noting that this enhances security and stability and preserves the sovereignty and territorial integrity of GCC states. He affirmed that the GCC has never been a party to any armed conflict, but has always supported peace and the resolution of disputes through constructive dialogue between all parties.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the Special Envoy of the Chinese Government commended the policies pursued by the GCC states at the domestic, regional, and international levels, which have made them a reliable and important partner for China, noting that the GCC’s commitment to restraint during this crisis reflects these prudent policies. He also commended the outcomes of the Emergency GCC Ministerial Meeting, which confirmed that dialogue and negotiations are the only solution to the crisis.
Both sides emphasised that current regional developments and challenges require intensified coordination and joint consultation to enhance security and stability in the region and the world. The meeting also reviewed bilateral relations between the GCC and the People’s Republic of China and means to strengthen them to serve mutual interests, including updates on the China-GCC Summit scheduled for this year and the Free Trade Agreement between the two sides.