KUWAIT, Oct 9 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutiairi on Thursday said rapid regional and global developments require more Gulf solidarity and integration.
Al-Mutairi, who doubles as Chairman of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL), made the remarks while addressing the 29th meeting of the GCC Minister of Culture, held in Kuwait under his chairmanship.
He said that this integration reflects the GCC system's firm status and promotes the rule of Gulf culture in addressing the latest developments and challenges.
He added that the GCC, under such circumstances, marks a model of unity, solidarity, integrity and togetherness as the core pillar of Gulf development and prosperity.
"Culture represents one of the central points of our soft power and effective tool in buildering people-to-people bridges and translation of our values and identity into an influential cultural discourse that promotes dialogue, understanding and peace and deepens fraternal bonds between our countries first and then between our countries and the entire world," he added.
The minister boasted that Kuwait has been named Capital of Arab Culture and Media for 2025 as some sort of honoring and national responsibility that reflects Kuwait's pioneering status and role in supporting joint Arab cultural action.
He considered cultural and political integration a significant addition to establishing Gulf identity and promoting it worldwide in a civilized honorable manner.
The Kuwaiti information minister hoped that this meeting would be an opportunity to complete the gains of previous gatherings and to launch fresh initiatives aiming at widening prospects of regional and international cooperation.
For his part, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi thanked and appreciated the State of Kuwait for hosting this pan-Gulf gathering, as well as its relentless support for the GCC system.
He boasted that the GCC has achieved great and various accomplishments under the direction of GCC leaders, calling for doubling efforts to fulfill the hopes and expectations of the Gulf people.
He added that Gulf culture and heritage mark the essence of Gulf identity and vivid memory as the core pillar of Gulf strength and resolve to build a prosperous present and brighter future for generations to come.
He cited the GCC hosting of over 8,000 publishers during international book fairs in 2024, which displayed hundreds of thousands of political, economic and social books and attracted more than 5.5 million visitors, as clear-cut evidence of growing Gulf cultural status and influential role in promoting global cultural communication.
The GCC chief hoped that this Kuwait-hosted gathering would contribute to pushing forward common Gulf action. (end) shd.mt