Riyadh, April 21 (QNA) - Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, affirmed that gulf economic integration is a fundamental pillar for safeguarding developmental gains and addressing challenges amidst exceptional regional circumstances.

  This came during the eighth extraordinary meeting of the Permanent Preparatory Committee at the ministerial level of the Economic and Development Affairs Authority of the GCC, held on Monday via video conference.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Secretary General stated that this extraordinary meeting was being held at a critical juncture due to the treacherous Iranian attacks targeting the GCC states. He noted that these attacks necessitate a shift from traditional coordination to a higher level of practical integration and effective response, especially given that the escalating challenges facing the region are no longer a passing circumstance, but rather a true test of its ability to protect its achievements and ensure the continued efficient and stable operation of its vital sectors.

He added that the geopolitical developments in the region have cast a shadow over the regional and international economic landscape, increasingly highlighting the importance of strengthening economic coordination and integration among the GCC countries and elevating it to higher levels of integration.

"This integration is the cornerstone for consolidating stability, preserving developmental gains, enhancing the ability of our economies to adapt to all changes and challenges, and mitigating the repercussions of crises,” said the Secretary General. (QNA)