Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud

RIYADH: The Gulf tour by the Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud will feature examination of a host of files and cement inter-GCC solidarity, according to prominent personalities. Fadl Al-Bouainain, member of the Saudi Shura Council, said in a statement to KUNA that the Saudi leadership is keen on strengthening joint Gulf action and attaining optimum integration among the GCC states for sake of regional security and stability.

Moreover, Riyadh aspires to bolster economic prosperity in the Council's member states. The Crown Prince's Gulf tour is designed to bolster the joint GCC action, attain highest form of merger in various spheres namely in the security and economic sectors. Additionally, his mission will affirm significance of brotherly-level meetings for boosting the inter-GCC relations, tackling challenges and unifying views toward various crucial files, he said.

Bouainain elaborated, saying the Kingdom Vision 2030, launched by Crown Prince Mohammad, not only focuses on the local economy but also calls for creating economic links with the neighboring states. The security file, he has added, is a main basis upon which all development and economic objectives are placed, also noting that the GCC countries have been facing emerging dangers such as sabotage schemes. Meanwhile, Dr Ibrahim Al-Nahas, member of the Saudi Shura Council, said the tour is complementary to previous coordination among the GCC countries regarding key files that collectively affect the council member countries.

Dr Nahas indicated that among the topics on the tables of talks with the officials due to meet with the Crown Prince would be combating terrorism and extremism. Moreover, he said, the tour will address "a certain mechanism to beef up the confrontation against the Iranian regime that continues to support terrorist organizations and groups, meddle in internal affairs of the GCC and Arab States, thus the need arises in this context to unify the efforts of the GCC states." Furthermore, the Crown Prince's tour emits a message to the global and regional communities; that the GCC states share concerns and policies at the political and security levels.

Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is kicking off his Gulf tour by visiting the Sultanate of Oman, due to its geopolitical role and status for tackling the Yemeni crisis -- being a nation that shares borders with Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Mohammad Al-Jahni, editor-in-chief of the Saudi newspaper 'Al-Bilad', has affirmed that a main objective of the tour is beefing up the GCC countries' solidarity. The GCC, established in the early 1980s, comprises Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait. - KUNA