First ministerial meeting on GCC-Russia strategic dialogue to open Tuesday

The first Joint Ministerial Meeting on Strategic Dialogue between the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and Russia is to be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday. The GCC will be represented by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the current session of the GCC Ministerial Council. The GCC Foreign Ministers and GCC Secretary General Abdul-Latif bin Rashid al-Zayani will be taking part in the meeting. Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The meeting will discuss the mechanisms for strategic dialogue between the two sides, views on regional and international issues of common interest, and the GCC-Russian relations. The meeting will also tackle the development of a joint work plan between the GCC and Russia in the framework of a strategic dialogue in order to stregnthen the mutual cooperation in all areas, especially in the fields of economy, trade, investment, education, scientific research, environment and health.