(With photos)
BRUSSELS, Dec 17 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's National Assembly (Parliament) Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim lauded Tuesday the strong and historic ties between Gulf Cooperation Council member states (GCC) and Europe.
"Relations between the GCC countries and Europe are distinguished in all domains," Al-Ghanim told KUNA following a meeting with the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz.
He went on to say that "GCC states are the fifth biggest trade partner to the European Union." Al-Ghanim added that GCC states are about to unify economic legislations to pave the way for broader and strategic partnership with the EU countries.
The Kuwaiti top lawmaker unveiled that his meeting with Schulz has tackled a wide array of issues, topped by means to boost bilateral relations as well as international and regional developments of common concern.
"We have also discussed developing cooperation between Gulf legislative councils and European parliament," he said.
Al-Ghanim is also the president of the current seventh round of the GCC legislative council.
He noted that he invited Schulz to visit Kuwait to complete discussions about the activating Kuwait-EU parliamentary friendship group.
He expressed hopes that the EU parliament would back Kuwait's bid to join Schengen visa-free entry to 28 EU member states. He also thanked the EP for approving the United Arab Emirates bid for joining Schengen visa waiver list.
Al-Ghanim arrived in the Belgian capital Monday night at, heading a parliamentary delegation, for talks aimed at activating political, economic and parliamentary cooperation with the Belgian Parliament and the European Union.
The delegation was received at Brussels airport by Kuwait's Ambassador to Belgium and the EU, Dharar Razzooqi, and other diplomats and staff members of the Kuwait embassy. (end) nk.hrz.ibi KUNA 172032 Dec 13NNNN