Oman hosts GCC parliaments’ speakers meeting

MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman hosted the 16th regular meeting of Heads of Shura, Representatives, National Assembly, and Parliament Councils in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), on Wednesday.

The meeting discussed the report of the GCC-European Parliamentary Committee, joint GCC action and cooperation with Latin American parliaments.

Khalid bin Hilal al Maawali, Chairman of Majlis Ash’shura, presided over the meeting.

Delivering a speech at the meeting Al Maawali underscored the support accorded by Their Highnesses the leaders of the GCC states to the march of the GCC cooperation and joint action and the strengthening of the bonds tying the GCC peoples together on the path of goodness and solidarity.

He noted that the meeting aims to complement the joint GCC action and strengthen the achievements of the GCC legislative work.

The chairman of Majlis Ash’shura said that the outcomes of the meeting reflect the level of cooperation among the GCC legislative councils and the exchange of opinions regarding the challenges that the region has gone through. This, he said, further enhanced the GCC joint action and union arriving at the desired broader integration and cooperation.

The constructive cooperation among the GCC states has had a significant impact on increasing interdependence and cohesion among the peoples of the GCC states, Al Maawali said, pointing to the importance of reformulating many goals and plans in line with the changes in order to arrive the stage of adaptation to achieve our interests and objectives. He stressed the importance of looking at economic diversification and the pursuit to achieve sustainable development of water and food security. He underscored the importance to strike a balance between the requirements of development and the preservation and protection of the environment.

The chairman of Majlis Ash’shura noted that the meeting discussed several topics including enhancing cooperation between the GCC countries and the European Parliament pointing to efforts previously made in this context. He said that good news is coming with regard to visas to the European Union countries for citizens of the GCC countries, the approval of which is in the hands of the European Parliament. — ONA