President H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is leading the UAE delegation to participate in the joint summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Riyadh….reports Asian Lite News
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized the Kingdom’s unwavering support for achieving a just resolution to the Palestinian issue during his opening speech at the inaugural Gulf Cooperation Council-Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit held in Riyadh. He expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in Gaza, which has led to innocent civilians bearing the brunt, and firmly condemned the targeting of civiliants.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who led the 10-member ASEAN this year, echoed these sentiments, calling for an end to the violence in Gaza in accordance with international laws. Crown Prince Mohammed underscored Saudi Arabia’s commitment to enhancing its relations with ASEAN countries across various sectors.
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While the GCC and ASEAN established their relations in 1990, this summit marked their first meeting, aimed at optimising collaboration between the two regional groups. The ASEAN delegation was led by ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, and the summit concluded with the issuance of a joint statement outlining the outcomes and cooperation plans for the period from 2024 to 2028.
For Southeast Asian leaders, this gathering provided an opportunity to seek support from Gulf states on matters pertaining to energy security. The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE, while the ASEAN bloc consists of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines. The current trade value between ASEAN nations stands at more than $110 billion.
MBZ Arrives in Riyadh
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has arrived in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, leading the UAE delegation to participate in the joint summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The summit commenced today in the Kingdom.
Upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, His Highness was received by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, along with other high-ranking officials.
The UAE delegation to the summit includes H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi; H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ali Mohammed Hammad Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for National Security; Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President; and Sheikh Nahyan bin Saif Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Fresh Wave of ME Protests Expected
Fresh protests against Israel’s siege of Gaza are expected across much of the Middle East on Friday as aid agencies warned hospitals in the enclave are running out of fuel amid fears life-saving aid will be still stuck in Egypt for another day.
With the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deteriorating each hour, Israeli leaders have been rallying troops preparing for a potential ground incursion and on Friday morning they issued a mandatory evacuation order to some 23,000 residents living near the border with Lebanon, CNN reported.
Israeli warplanes’ relentless bombardment has left hundreds of thousands of people homeless and sparked growing protests across the Middle East.
Egypt’s state-aligned political parties and institutions have called for nationwide protests in Egypt on Friday in support of Palestinians, a rare moment during a decade of strict anti-protest laws, CNN reported.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday that the risk of regional spillover from the Israel-Hamas war is “real”.
“We have seen the Arab streets fill with rage, all across the region… This is exactly what Hamas was hoping to achieve. And this can derail the recent and historic rapprochement between Israel and its Arab neighbours,” von der Leyen said during a speech at the Hudson Institute in Washington.
With anti-Israel protests rising across the Middle East there are fears other fronts could open up, particularly on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon where Hezbollah dominates and has increasingly clashed with Israel’s military over the last week.
ALSO READ: Fresh Wave Of Protests Loom Over Middle East
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