Hassan Al-Sitri
Members of the legislative councils of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries stressed the importance of coordinating Gulf positions to form a force in sensitive files, the most important of which is the economic file.
This came in their statements on the sidelines of the nineteenth regular meeting of the heads of the Shura, Representatives, National and Nation Councils in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Chairman of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the Bahraini House of Representatives, Ahmed Al-Saloum, said: “The importance of holding the meeting in Bahrain confirms that Bahrain has a strategic position among the GCC countries, and the importance of hosting this type of meeting at the level of heads of legislative councils in the region. The meeting today will discuss a number of important matters, the most important of which is deepening relations between the parliaments of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and other parliaments, especially the European Parliament and Latin American countries, and will discuss the governance of legislation with artificial intelligence and how to implement it at the level of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. He added: “This type of meeting discusses the topics in a framework, and does not go into the topics in detail. On the agenda is a discussion of the governance of artificial intelligence and the necessary legislation to control the issue at the level of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries due to its importance. The importance of cooperation and relations between the Gulf parliaments and other parliaments will be discussed, the most important of which is the European Parliament, as there was a meeting 4 months ago attended by the President of the European Parliament, in addition to a request to exchange delegations with Latin America.”
Member of the UAE Federal National Council, Mona Al-Hammad, confirmed that the UAE’s participation in the nineteenth regular meeting came as a continuation of the regular meeting held last year in the capital, Abu Dhabi, and indicated that the Kingdom of Bahrain is a country with effective relations at the level of the Gulf and the Arab world, and the presence of members from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries is a confirmation of the strong interdependence between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. As for the member of the Office of the Omani Shura Council, Talal Al-Muharbi, he said: “In this meeting, many topics will be discussed, most notably cooperation with regional and local countries, which have pioneering experiences in the field of parliaments, and with regard to the digital economy, these are topics that will be discussed.”
A member of the Shura Council in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Fadl Al-Buainain, said: “Gulf Cooperation Council meetings at all levels are of great importance because of their positive repercussions on Gulf coordination, facing challenges, seizing opportunities, and strengthening Gulf ties. The Gulf is one family, and these meetings are of utmost importance, especially in the economic aspect. Gulf countries face global economic challenges and at the same time launch economic initiatives. All Gulf countries have economic visions, and it is important to coordinate these visions, seize opportunities, and enhance integration. Integration makes the Gulf countries an economic power.” Able to negotiate with countries around the world, and thus this is reflected in the goals of the GCC countries.”
He added: “Today, the heads of the Shura Councils and Representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are part of the system that manages the economic aspect and everything related to future development aspects. Because building the legislative structure is the basic basis on which all development programs are based, especially sustainable development.” In the same context, the Secretary-General of the House of Representatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Mohammed Al-Sisi Al-Buainain, confirmed that the meeting comes at a time when the world and the region are facing increasing economic challenges. He stated that during this meeting, Bahrain was keen to discuss pivotal issues such as diversifying sources of income to achieve sustainable development in the Gulf region, in addition to other issues such as artificial intelligence and environmental protection.
Al-Sisi Al-Buainain pointed out that diversifying sources of income is one of the most important axes that Bahrain has focused on, given the pressures facing the global economy.
He praised the Kingdom’s continued achievement of economic growth according to official indicators, which contributes significantly to supporting the Gulf economy in general. He also explained that the Gulf meetings are an important platform for exchanging experiences and finding solutions to common economic challenges, stressing Bahrain’s belief in the importance of joint Gulf action to achieve economic integration and sustainable development.
