Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, said that the ministerial meeting between the GCC and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) demonstrates the GCC's commitment to establishing strong strategic relationships with nations and organizations from all over the world. The meeting, attended by ministers of foreign affairs of the GCC and CELAC countries, was held on Friday, on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly high-level week in New York. Albudaiwi emphasized the strategic importance of the meeting, and described it as a valuable opportunity to improve security and stability on regional and international fronts, while also promoting cooperation. He said that the relationships between GCC and CELAC have become stronger since their first meeting, in 2013, and that they are based on mutual respect and trust, and reflect a collective determination to strengthen partnerships. Albudaiwi also talked about the po litical and security challenges facing the world, underscoring the need for coordinated efforts to address urgent issues such as nuclear proliferation, ballistic missile threats, maritime security, counter-terrorism, and organized crime, all of which demand collective action and collaboration. On the economic front, he noted that trade exchange between GCC and CELAC reached approximately $11.7 billion in 2021, stressed the essential role of economic cooperation in fostering relations between the two regions, and the importance of advancing these connections in the future. Albudaiwi asserted that cooperation between the two sides will encompass new important areas, including education, political dialogue, security, culture, youth engagement, sports, agriculture and food security. He expressed eagerness to explore new opportunities to increase integration between the two regions, reaffirming his confidence that joint efforts will yield fruitful results that strengthen the partnership between GCC and CELAC. S ource: Saudi Press Agency