KUWAIT, Dec 27 (KUNA) -- Here are the main events of the GCC Secretariat during 2021.
GCC Secretariat:

Jan. 4: Kuwait Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah announces that Saudi Arabia and Qatar have agreed to reopen air traffic, land and sea border crossings.

Jan.5: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosts the 41st summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council states' (GCC) leaders in the historic city of Al-Ula in northwest Saudi Arabia.

Jan. 5: Leaders of GCC presses for enhancing pan-GCC cooperation to reach full integration and unity among its six member states.
Jan. 5: The GCC Supreme Council approves the agreement on linking payment systems between the GCC states, considering it the legal umbrella for the payments and settlements between the Council states, and authorizing the members of the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee to sign it.
Jan. 5: The GCC approves the amendment of Article Six of the Joint Defense Agreement to change the name of the Joint Peninsula Shield Forces command to the Unified Military Command of the Cooperation Council member states.
Jan 5: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) renews its support for Security Council Resolution No. 2107 (2013), which refers the file of Kuwaiti prisoners, missing persons, Kuwaiti property and the national archive to the United Nations Mission (UNAMI), to follow up on this file.
Jan 5: The GCC Supreme Council approves the establishment of the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control, under the umbrella of Gulf Health Council for Cooperation Council States.
Jan 29: GCC health ministers approves the GCC public heath plan to respond to emergencies, the early warning system and the establishment of the Gulf center for disease prevention and control.
Feb 11: The GCC health ministers hold an exceptional online meeting to discuss precautionary measures regarding the coronavirus.
March 17: The GCC ministerial council, at end of its 147th session, affirms commitment to the latest GCC summit's declarations, in line with the GCC statute and the joint defense treaty, that the countries would stand together in the face of any external danger.
April 18: The Secretariat General of GCC and Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of digital economics.
April 20: The GCC and Greece signed an MoU on cooperation in the political, economic, investment and commercial fields.
Sept 1: GCC General Secretary Dr. Nayef Al-Hajarf announces the launch of the GCC Joint Production Foundation, which constitutes a new strategy that strengthens its identity as a professional, credible and Gulf media voice.
Sept 16: General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announces the convening of the 149th session of the Council's Ministerial Meeting at the Headquarters of the Secretariat in Riyadh in the presence of Foreign Ministers of the GCC countries.
Oct 5: General Secretariat and Airbus defense and space agency signed an MoU to boost security coordination and communication among GCC countries.
Oct 10: Secretary General Dr. Al-Hajraf and Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Abul Gheit signed an MoU to cement cooperation and coordination between the two organizations.
Nov 7: General Secretariat signed an MoU with Bahrain's center for strategic, international and energy studies to exploit resources and human resources.
Nov 15: The GCC and Organization of Islamic Cooperation signed the executive program memorandum.
Nov 18: General Secretariat and China's trade ministry signed an MoU on countering harmful practices in international trade. (end) ed