Saudi Gazette report

KUWAIT — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan participated in the third meeting of the strategic dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Central Asian countries, held in Kuwait.

The meeting focused on advancing cooperation between the GCC and Central Asian nations, reviewing a joint action plan aimed at enhancing political, economic, cultural, and tourism ties.

Participants also discussed ongoing preparations for the upcoming GCC–Central Asia summit, scheduled to take place next month in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The summit follows the inaugural edition hosted by Saudi Arabia in 2023.

Discussions also covered regional and international developments, alongside efforts to strengthen mutual coordination on key global issues.

The GCC member states and the Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — share historical and religious ties as Islamic countries and members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). With vast reserves of oil and gas, both regions play a strategic role in maintaining global energy security, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).