UAE Leads Delegation at GCC-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting in Tashken
In Abu Dhabi, on April 15, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, assumed leadership of the UAE delegation at the second Joint Ministerial Meeting of the GCC-Central Asian Countries Strategic Dialogue convened in Tashkent. This gathering, chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, who currently holds the GCC chairmanship, alongside Bakhtiyor Saidov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, aimed at fortifying cooperation between the GCC and Central Asian nations.
The event, attended by foreign ministers representing both regions, as well as distinguished guests including Dr. Jassim Muhammed Albudaiwi, GCC Secretary-General, and Jeyhun Bayramov, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, underscored the paramount importance of nurturing bilateral relations. Saidov articulated the pressing need to bolster cooperation mechanisms, capitalize on mutual interests, and leverage opportunities for collaborative endeavors to enhance regional stability and prosperity.
The comprehensive agenda of the meeting encompassed a thorough review of ongoing GCC initiatives, deliberations on pertinent political developments within the respective regions, and analysis of global dynamics impacting their strategic interests. Special emphasis was placed on deepening the strategic relations between the GCC and Central Asian countries, in alignment with the joint action plan for the period 2023-2027, which was signed during the inaugural Ministerial Meeting in September 2022.
The UAE delegation, comprising Saeed Matar Al Qemzi, UAE Ambassador to Uzbekistan, and a cadre of senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Energy, and Infrastructure, actively participated in the proceedings. Their presence underscored the UAE’s steadfast commitment to advancing cooperation and collaboration within the framework of the GCC-Central Asian strategic dialogue. Such engagements are pivotal in fostering stability, fostering prosperity, and driving shared development across the regions, reaffirming the UAE’s role as a proactive contributor to regional cooperation and integration initiatives.