May 31, 2010
Asean, Gulf Cooperation Council to discuss partnership
Asean member states will continue cooperating with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in areas of trade, investment, economic development, education, culture and databasing at an upcoming meeting in Singapore.
The discussion will be held during the second Asean and GCC forum from May 31.
The meeting will be co-chaired by delegates from Cambodia, which is the coordinating country between Asean and the State of Kuwait, the current holder of the GCC presidency.
The GCC consists of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.
The meeting will be held amidst regional and international settings of increasing complexity, but the focus will remain on peace and cooperation for development.
According to a statement from the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ministers from the two regions will review the cooperation of Asean and GCC over the past year. This includes the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Secretariat Unit of Asean and GCC.
In addition, the two organisations will continue discussions about the direction of future cooperation, and share ideas about regional and international issues including the world financial crisis, climate change, environmental integration and energy development.
In addition, the meeting will approve the implementation plan for Asean-GCC cooperation in 2010-12. The co-chairpersons will issue a joint statement, focusing on the importance of cooperation between the two organisations.
Asean and GCC have officially been in partnership since 1990, but at that time the relationship was lacking strength and solidarity. However, the cooperation between Asean and GCC has stepped into a new era and has improved gradually since the First Foreign Affairs Ministerial Meeting was held in Bahrain last year.
Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Thongloun Sisoulith will attend the upcoming meeting.
Source: Vientiane Times
Asean, Gulf Cooperation Council to discuss partnership
Asean member states will continue cooperating with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in areas of trade, investment, economic development, education, culture and databasing at an upcoming meeting in Singapore.
The discussion will be held during the second Asean and GCC forum from May 31.
The meeting will be co-chaired by delegates from Cambodia, which is the coordinating country between Asean and the State of Kuwait, the current holder of the GCC presidency.
The GCC consists of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.
The meeting will be held amidst regional and international settings of increasing complexity, but the focus will remain on peace and cooperation for development.
According to a statement from the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ministers from the two regions will review the cooperation of Asean and GCC over the past year. This includes the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Secretariat Unit of Asean and GCC.
In addition, the two organisations will continue discussions about the direction of future cooperation, and share ideas about regional and international issues including the world financial crisis, climate change, environmental integration and energy development.
In addition, the meeting will approve the implementation plan for Asean-GCC cooperation in 2010-12. The co-chairpersons will issue a joint statement, focusing on the importance of cooperation between the two organisations.
Asean and GCC have officially been in partnership since 1990, but at that time the relationship was lacking strength and solidarity. However, the cooperation between Asean and GCC has stepped into a new era and has improved gradually since the First Foreign Affairs Ministerial Meeting was held in Bahrain last year.
Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Thongloun Sisoulith will attend the upcoming meeting.
Source: Vientiane Times
