RIYADH: The Arab League countries and the nation islands of the Pacific are keen on bolstering ties on all levels and are interested in resolving various challenges, said Kuwait Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Monday. This came during Sheikh Salem’s speech to the second ministerial meeting for the Arab League countries and small developing Pacific nations held in the Saudi capital Riyadh. The meeting's agenda focused on developing ties with numerous domains in addition to finding solutions to matters hindering collaboration between the two blocs.

Regional and international happenings were also highlighted during the session. The meeting is presided over by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Palau Foreign Minister and the Pacific group's coordinator Gustav Aitaro with the participation of Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Abul-Gheit and ministers of both blocs of member nations. During his speech to the meeting, Sheikh Salem affirmed his country's eagerness to explore new ways to expand cooperation between Arab countries and their Pacific Island nations to achieve security and development for all.

Arab and Pacific foreign ministers pose for a photo at the meeting.

He commended the previous meeting held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in 2010, saying it laid the foundation stone to which this meeting was standing on. Reflecting Kuwait's stance on important regional issues pertaining to the Middle East, Sheikh Salem expressed his country unwavering stance on the issue of Palestine, indicating that the world must find ways to prevent the Israeli aggressors from continuing their assault on the Palestinian people who are eager to establish an independent state with east Jerusalem as the capital. He also displayed Kuwait's interest in resolving international crises whether in the Ukraine or the South China Sea.

On the issue of nuclear proliferation, Sheikh Salem stressed that it was important to spread awareness on the issue to keep the world free of weapons of mass destruction. As for the relations between the Arab and Pacific regions, Sheikh Salem urged both blocs to boost numbers of commercial exchange via taking decisions during current and future meetings. Talks bringing together foreign ministers from Arab and Pacific Island countries drew to a close on Monday. They aimed to bolster bilateral relations across numerous fields ranging from trade and investment to security and energy.

RIYADH: Kuwait Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is seen among other representatives from Pacific and Arab countries during the second ministerial meeting. -- KUNA photos

Greater bilateral cooperation would enable countries to address global challenges as a "collective unit," said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, pinpointing food security and climate change as among those challenges. Egypt-based Arab League chief Dr. Ahmed Abul-Gheit highlighted the common "aspirations and interests" of the two regions despite the lack of geographic proximity, citing efforts to find "common ground" on a vast array of matters. – KUNA