RIYADH: The General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) announced yesterday that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested from GCC Secretary General, Dr Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, to invite their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC states to attend the 41st GCC Summit being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on January 5, 2021.

Dr Hajraf, said: "I had the honor today to personally deliver King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's invitation to the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to attend the 41st GCC Summit taking place in Riyadh on January 5, 2021. The invitation was received by the Vice-President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum today in Dubai."

Dr Hajraf said: "The commitment by Gulf leaders to hold the summit on an annual basis, and especially in these exceptional times, is a testament to the strength of the GCC, to their belief in their duty to the people of the Gulf, and their devotion to increasing cooperation and integration among member countries. Today, as the GCC enters its fifth decade with a global pandemic in the backdrop, the institution's mission to facilitate trade and economic integration among member states is more relevant than at any time in its history.

The GCC remains focused on meeting the ambitions of the Gulf people, increasing integration, interconnectedness, and trade among member states and the international community. I am grateful to their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC states, for their tireless efforts to further strengthen Gulf cooperation."

The GCC has held an annual meeting of the Supreme Council to discuss coordination, integration, and interconnection between the member States and their citizens in economic development, commerce, education, and culture. The GCC's focus today is on meeting the ambitions of the region's young and digital population and enabling them to drive the region forward while remembering their shared heritage.