JEDDAH: During the GCC-C5 Summit held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Arab Gulf states and Central Asian countries strengthened their political, security, and economic ties. The summit aimed to reinforce the existing relations and explore the untapped potential of their partnership.
Khalid Al-Falih, the Saudi Minister for Investment, expressed optimism about the expected outcomes of the event. It particularly focused on the development and expansion of economic and investment relations among the participating countries.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the GCC and Central Asian nations have been actively working to rebuild their relationships. In 2001, they established the GCC-Central Asia Dialogue, a platform for discussing political, economic, and security cooperation.
During the summit, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, representing King Salman, warmly welcomed the heads of the Central Asian delegations. He emphasized that the event marked a continuation of ties based on shared history, resources, and economic growth. The Crown Prince expressed that the Kingdom and its Gulf allies are eager to explore new avenues of cooperation between the two regions.
The leaders stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation to achieve regional security and stability. They emphasized respecting the sovereignty, independence, and values of states, refraining from interfering in their internal affairs. They also discussed intensifying joint efforts to address issues impacting energy security and global food supply chains.
Cooperation between GCC and Central Asian countries
The GCC and Central Asian countries have been working to strengthen economic cooperation. They held their first economic forum in Kazakhstan in 2018, aiming to increase trade and investment between the regions. They also signed memoranda of understanding on cooperation in education and tourism. It aims to promote exchanges between the two regions in the subsequent years.
In 2021, the value of exchanged goods between the GCC and Central Asia reached $3.1 billion. Air connectivity has improved, with Saudi airlines linking the Kingdom with some Central Asian countries, and investment plans in Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector have been made.
Cooperation on security has intensified as both regions face threats from terrorism and extremism. In 2022, commitments were made to deepen security cooperation, including establishing a joint security dialogue, a joint task force, intelligence and information exchange, and training in counterterrorism and security-related matters.
In the same year, the GCC and C5 launched a strategic dialogue, covering political, security, economic, investment, and cultural cooperation. It aims to establish a stronger and more diversified partnership between the two regions. The summit represented a significant step in enhancing regional cooperation and fostering a better future for both regions.
