GCC advisory body helps boost bloc-wide dialogue - chief

MANAMA, Feb 9 (KUNA) -- The formation of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) advisory body is an effort to ratchet up dialogue across the six-member bloc, its chief Jassem Al-Budaiwi said on Monday.
Such efforts are imperative to bring the aspirations of GCC leaders to fruition, he told a gathering of the GCC advisory body in the Bahrani capital, presided over by its chief Sheikha Mariam Al-Khalifa, in which he acknowledged the contributions of the Gulf Arab kingdom towards greater intra-bloc cooperation, the official underlined.
He expressed his gratitude for the efforts of Kuwait and the success of its recently concluded presidency of the Riyadh-based bloc, led by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, highlighting the pivotal role the advisory body plays to push forward "joint GCC work," he said.
On the intricacies of the advisory body's role, he said that it mainly deals with the compilation of studies over the feasibility of bloc-wide plans and joint initiatives, subsequently keeping development in the Gulf Arab region on an upward trajectory.
Addressing the gathering, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani said that Manama, the incumbent president of the six-member bloc, would spare no effort to keep development across the region steady through backing the works of the advisory body.
Reiterating the importance of the advisory body's role, the Bahraini top diplomat said that propping up it works would be crucial towards bolstering economic cooperation among GCC member states, he added. (end) kna.nam