Kuwait, May 28 (QNA) - The State of Qatar, represented by Qatar Museums (QM), took part in the 23rd Meeting of the Undersecretaries Responsible for Antiquities and Museums in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States, held in Kuwait on Wednesday.

The Qatari delegation to the meeting, which marks Kuwait’s designation as the Capital of Arab Culture and Media for the year 2025, was headed by the Chief Executive Officer of QM, Mohammed Saad Al Rumaihi.

The meeting centered on topics related to preserving cultural heritage and historic identity, ways to bolster joint Gulf action in the areas of antiquities and museums, and the relevant shared topics among member states, particularly the annual plan for events and activities in this field, and to prepare perspectives, suggestions, and regulations related to this field.

The conferees also deliberated on jointly setting action plans and appropriate decisions, and endorsed the recommendations outlined in the convention.

Addressing the event, Al Rumaihi thanked all GCC member states for their steadfast support and constructive collaboration throughout the State of Qatar’s presidency of the 22nd session, an interval characterized by intensive joint action and dynamic scientific and cultural exchange.

This meeting is highly consequential as a deep-rooted Gulf platform aimed at boosting coordination and energizing efforts in the field of protecting cultural heritage and historic identity, Al Rumaihi underlined, emphasizing that he is confident in Kuwait's current presidency of the event.

As this convention marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of QM and celebrates this milestone as part of a broader national initiative titled Ummah of Advancement, QM reaffirms its unstinting commitment to cultivating Qatar’s cultural landscape and supporting all endeavors that reinforce Qatar's cultural heritage across the Gulf region and the wider world, Al Rumaihi underlined.

  He added that, stemming from QM's vision, mission, and deeply held core values, it remains resolutely dedicated to building a community that is storied, inspiring, innovative, collaborative, and inclusive.

In addition, Al Rumaihi underscored QM's enduring commitment to joint Gulf action and to supporting all initiatives that promote the Qatari cultural presence on regional and global stages.

For his part, the Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) in the State of Kuwait, Dr. Mohammad Al Jassar, said the meeting confirms the importance of Arab culture, history, and media in alignment with national identity and civilizational legacy, affirming that he is glad to organize and host this meeting that spotlights the depth of Gulf relations.

This convention highlights Gulf unity and promotes the spirit of cultural and historical collaboration in the areas of antiquities and museums among member states and strengthens the Gulf nations' standing on the global stage, Dr. Al Jassar emphasized.

The Head of the Human and Environment Affairs Sector at the GCC General Secretariat, Eng. Abdullah bin Ali Al Rubaie, said the meeting is a critical milestone to enhance cultural cooperation among member states, as it addresses a range of topics, foremost among them the GCC Committee of Antiquities and Museums Action Plan 2025–2030, the Annual Plan for Joint Cultural Events and Activities, which helps operationalize the cultural movement and broaden the community's engagement in safeguarding heritage, as well as the regulations governing joint Gulf action.

On the margins of the convention, NCCAL held an honoring ceremony for a host of professionals and researchers in the domains of antiquities and museums, alongside a broad range of privately operated museums from GCC member states.

The honorees were mainly Siham Al Mazrouei, who specializes in the field of archaeology, Nadia Al Saleh, who is recognized for her contributions to the museum sector; and Salem Saeed Al Mohannadi, the owner of the privately established Salem Al Mohannadi Classic Car Museum, widely renowned as one of Qatar's pioneering personal collections in the domain of vintage automobiles. (QNA)