Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 7 September 2022, the first ministerial meeting of the Strategic Dialogue "Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf - Central Asia" was held in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).

The event was attended by the heads of the foreign affairs agencies of the member countries of the Council - Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the states of Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

The participants of the meeting discussed the current state and prospects for further strengthening relations between the countries of the Council and the states of Central Asia in the areas of politics, security, trade and investment, education, healthcare, culture, youth and sports.

The head of the delegation of Uzbekistan, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Norov, in his speech, said that the development of relations with the GCC countries is one of the priorities of the foreign policy of New Uzbekistan.

In order to intensify trade and economic ties between the GCC countries and Central Asia, proposals were made to create a Business Council, implement projects in the field of transport, including the construction of the Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway, as well as launch the meeting format transport ministers.

The importance of creating joint clinics, organizing the production of pharmaceuticals, opening branches of universities and professional education centers, establishing scientific and academic exchange, supporting innovative developments and start-ups was noted.

In order to preserve the common heritage of the countries of the Council and Central Asia, it was proposed to develop a joint program of events that provides for the organization of exhibitions and conferences, the digitalization of the manuscript fund and the creation of joint virtual libraries, the promotion of direct contacts between museums, and the conduct of historical and archaeological research.

The attention of participants of the meeting was presented with information about the current situation in Afghanistan. The delegations highly appreciated the efforts made by the Uzbek side to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and the implementation of major infrastructure projects in the country. The practical significance of the International Conference "Afghanistan: Security and Economic Development" held in July this year, in which the GCC member countries took an active part, was noted.

It is proposed to hold the second meeting of the Strategic Dialogue "Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf - Central Asia" in 2023 in Samarkand.