Manama, November 05 (QNA) - The State of Qatar has taken part in a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting aimed at promoting cultural cooperation among the bloc's member states.

HE Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Thani attended the 30th meeting of Their Highnesses and Excellencies GCC Ministers of Culture, which took place on Thursday in the Bahraini capital, Manama.

The meeting was chaired by HE Chairman of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, who is also the current president of the GCC Committee of Ministers of Culture. HE GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi was in attendance.

Discussions focused on enhancing coordination and integration, developing the cultural sector, supporting cultural and creative industries, and expanding the international presence of Gulf culture.

In his address, Albudaiwi said GCC countries shared a rich civilizational heritage and a well-established cultural identity that served as a source of strength and social cohesion.

He highlighted achievements in developing cultural institutions, preserving heritage, supporting creativity and launching specialized cultural initiatives across the region.

Citing statistical indicators, HE Albudaiwi said the member states collectively had nearly 300 museums and more than 170 public libraries. Cultural events across the Gulf attracted over 5.5 million visitors and featured the participation of more than 8,000 exhibitors and publishing houses.

Albudaiwi stressed the importance of taking Gulf cultural cooperation to a higher level of integration, strengthening culture's role in shaping the future, raising awareness and building bridges between peoples, while showcasing the region's rich human and creative heritage.

He also highlighted the importance of the GCC Cultural and Creative Industries Action Plan for 2027-2030, describing it as an important step towards developing joint programs and projects, identifying priorities, establishing implementation mechanisms and measuring outcomes.

The plan also includes developing the GCC Cultural and Creative Industries Index and a cultural statistics platform to establish a shared information database that can support planning and decision-making, as well as assess the cultural sector's contribution to GCC economies.

Albudaiwi concluded that the issues discussed at the meeting offered an opportunity to deepen cultural coordination and integration among member states and build on the achievements of joint Gulf cooperation. (QNA)