Photo: Yves Herman / Reuters
Leaders and senior officials from the Middle East have actively participated in the World Economic Forum in Davos, using this platform to discuss regional challenges and global prospects, The Jerusalem Post reports.
Strengthening cooperation with the United States
UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri said that the United Arab Emirates is the United States’ leading trading partner among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The volume of bilateral trade is $40 billion annually. According to him, cooperation between the United States and the Gulf countries is of strategic importance for regional stability.
Israel and Qatar: a historic meeting
Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. During the conversation, Herzog thanked the Qatari prime minister for his efforts in implementing the hostage agreement and stressed the importance of further cooperation.
Saudi Arabia and the prospects for the region
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, at the session “Diplomacy in Disorder”, stressed the enormous potential of the Middle East to achieve progress despite the challenges. He also noted the positive developments in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza, calling on the international community to promote stability in the region.
Iran and Iraq: strengthening bilateral relations
Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid. The leaders discussed cooperation in the fields of energy, environment, economy and security. They stressed the importance of coordinating positions in the international arena to ensure regional stability.
Syria returns to dialogue
Syria’s new Foreign Minister Assad al-Shibani, who took over the foreign ministry in December, is actively participating in the Davos meetings. His speech together with Tony Blair, scheduled for 22 January, could be key to presenting Syria’s new initiatives.
Other regional initiatives
Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly travelled to Davos to participate in discussions aimed at strengthening economic relations. Meanwhile, Turkey boycotted the forum for the second time in a row over the situation in the Gaza Strip.
The Davos Forum demonstrated the readiness of Middle Eastern leaders to engage in dialogue and cooperation to address pressing challenges and shape a better future for the region.
