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Visit of EAM, Dr. S. Jaishankar to Saudi Arabia for the India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue

Posted on: September 09, 2024 | Back | Print

Visit of EAM, Dr. S. Jaishankar to Saudi Arabia for the India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar (EAM), visited Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 8-9 of September, 2024, to attend the 1st ever India–GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue.

2. During his visit, EAM co-chaired the India–GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue along with His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, President of the current session of the GCC Ministerial Council. This was the first meeting between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at the Foreign Ministers level, and was attended by Foreign Ministers of all the GCC countries and Secretary General of the GCC His Excellency Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.

3. EAM and the Foreign Ministers, reaffirmed their joint commitment to building on the achievements of this first Ministerial Meeting. EAM highlighted that the Gulf Cooperation Council as a collective entity has vital significance for India and constitutes the "extended” neighborhood of India and thanked the GCC countries for taking care of the large Indian diaspora in their countries. The leaders undertook detailed review of India-GCC ties and appreciated the upward trajectory in ties witnessed in the last few years. EAM and the Foreign Ministers, emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation across a wide range of areas.

4. EAM underscored the significance of the strategic and growing partnership between the Gulf Cooperation Council and India. Through collaborative initiatives in trade, investment, infrastructure development, and people to people ties, this partnership not only bolsters economic growth within the region and India but also contributes to a more stable and prosperous global economy.

5. The meeting also adopted a Joint Action Plan 2024-2028 for undertaking various joint activities in diverse areas including health, trade, security, agriculture and food security, transportation, energy, culture, amongst others. It was also decided that more areas of cooperation can be included in the Joint Action Plan, based on mutual consensus, later on.

6. The meeting also addressed international and regional issues of common interest.

7. EAM also had separate bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Foreign Minister of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait His Excellency Abdullah Ali Al Yahya, and the Foreign Minister of Bahrain His Excellency Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani on the sidelines of the India – GCC Ministerial meeting.

Riyadh
September 09, 2024