Amman, September 25 (QNA) - The seventh meeting of the Joint Cultural Cooperation Working Group between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was held today in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

The meeting aimed to develop frameworks, plans, and programs to enhance joint cultural cooperation, with the participation of representatives from the ministries of culture in the GCC member states and Jordan.

The Ministry of Culture was represented by Director of the Department of Culture and Arts, Abdulrahman Al Dulaimi, and Director of the Department of International Cooperation Nasser Al Malki.

The meeting sought to establish new foundations for cultural and creative collaboration, focusing on promoting Arab identity and heritage, launching initiatives and awards for young creatives, developing cultural industries, and supporting exchange and capacity-building programs. Additional goals include encouraging joint translation and publishing projects, forming institutional partnerships, empowering youth, and enhancing the global presence of Arab culture—all reflecting the spirit of fraternal cooperation between Jordan and the GCC countries.

The two sides discussed mechanisms for exchanging expertise, experiences, and statistical data related to the cultural and creative industries sector, child-focused activities, as well as cooperation in collecting and documenting intangible heritage, protecting archives and manuscripts, and developing documentation mechanisms and digital transformation initiatives.

The meeting also explored collaboration in translation and publishing, book fairs, participation in cultural and artistic festivals, and the exchange of experiences and capacity-building programs. Other proposals included hosting a periodic cultural conference, organizing joint workshops on identity and cultural heritage, and launching joint cultural awards to recognize and honor young talents across various fields of cultural and artistic creativity.

In her remarks, Director of the Department of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities at the GCC Secretariat General, Ohood Mohammed Al Haif, reaffirmed the GCC Supreme  Council's commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between the GCC and Jordan. She emphasized the importance of taking steps to facilitate and accelerate the implementation of the joint action plan, and the need for coordinating cultural positions in international forums. She also referred to the Memorandum of Understanding on cultural cooperation between the GCC and Jordan.

Al Haif highlighted that the GCC Secretariat is working closely with member states and Jordan to support participation in joint cultural events and activities. She also reviewed the draft joint cultural action plan, underscoring the importance of coordination in areas such as archive and manuscript preservation, documentation mechanisms, creative cities and cultural zones development, and child-focused activities.

For his part, Secretary-General of Jordan's Ministry of Culture, Dr. Nidal Al Ahmad, stated that the meeting reaffirms culture as a fundamental pillar of joint Arab action and a bridge of communication among Arab peoples. He described it as a sincere expression of the deep fraternal ties, shared hopes, and aspirations that unite the Arab world.

He emphasized Jordan's growing commitment to intensifying cultural cooperation with GCC countries, noting the shared values, challenges, and interests, and the alignment of visions that form a strong basis for long-term cultural strategies. He stressed that culture remains a fortress of unified Arab identity. (QNA)