Summit in Jeddah: events and results

Summit in Jeddah: events and results

The first summit of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, held on July 19, 2023 under the auspices and host of Saudi Arabia in the city of Jeddah, became the embodiment of mutual efforts to launch a higher political dialogue, expand cooperation and integration of the states of two geostrategically important regions (Central Asia and the Persian Gulf) in the plane of the Work Plan for 2023-2027, adopted on September 7, 20 22 at a meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of these states.

At the same time, this high-level meeting can be seen as a sign of the growing interest of the Arab states of the Gulf in the huge opportunities for trade and investment cooperation in Central Asia, an important platform for exchanging views, developing proposals and initiatives to further strengthen integration.

The Founder of Peace and National Unity - Leader of the Nation, Emomali Rahmon, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, in his speech at this summit, in particular, noted that the countries of Central Asia and the Gulf region are connected by deep historical, cultural and spiritual ties.

Tajikistan, from the first days of independence, has identified the issues of strengthening multifaceted relations with the member countries of the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf as one of the important directions of its foreign policy and is looking at their future with great optimism.

In this context, we support the initiative to establish a strategic dialogue in the "Central Asia-Gulf" format.

According to the Leader of the Nation, it is important to use the potential of the financial institutions of the Arab countries of the Gulf, including the development funds of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, as well as the King Salman Support and Assistance Center, the Sheikh Zayed Foundation and the Islamic Development Bank Group, to attract investments from the countries of the Gulf region to the economy of Tajikistan, which has a large hydropower potential and is striving to develop the "green energy" sector by building a number of power plants of various capacities for the benefit of all region, proposing in this regard to create a specialized Investment and Development Support Fund within the framework of the “Central Asia-Gulf” format.

As a result of the summit, a joint declaration of 22 points was adopted, in which the Heads of State, taking into account common values and interests, deep historical ties between the Gulf Council and Central Asia, emphasized the importance of strengthening political and strategic ties at the collective and bilateral levels, continuing political interaction in order to ensure security and stability in the region and the world, combating challenges, cooperation in the development of green energy, supporting investment opportunities and increasing trade exchanges.

The necessity and importance of encouraging cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere, including healthcare, science and education, protection of cultural heritage, information cooperation, prevention of the consequences of climate change, exchange of experience and training of specialists were especially noted.
The heads of state welcomed the decision of Saudi Arabia to host the Gulf and Central Asia Investment Forum in the fourth quarter of this year, as well as the initiative of Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan to host the same investment forum in 2024.

Also, the Heads of the Gulf and Central Asian states condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, in this regard they highly appreciated the results of the high-level conference "International and regional cooperation in the field of security and border management in order to counter terrorism and prevent the movement of terrorists" (Dushanbe, October 18-19, 2022) and the ministerial meeting on the international coalition against the "Islamic State" (Riyadh, June 8) 2023).
In addition, the Heads of State stated that part of the Islamic world is facing the problem of access to food security due to the consequences of climate change, the geopolitical and geo-economic situation, which necessitates strengthening cooperation within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

It was decided that the next summit of the Arab states of the Gulf and the states of Central Asia will be held in 2025 in the city of Samarkand, the Republic of Uzbekistan.

On the sidelines of the summit in Jeddah, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, held an important meeting with the Crown Prince, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, at which a wide range of issues of cooperation between Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia were discussed.

Also, the Leader of the Nation and the accompanying delegation, taking the opportunity, performed the rite of death and prayed for the future progress and prosperity of Tajikistan - the home of hope for all Tajiks of the world, as well as for the peace and well-being of the glorious Tajik people.

Shahlokhon Murodali

junior researcher of the Department

Middle and Near East

Institute for the Study of Problems

states of Asia and Europe

National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan.

source: avesta.tj