New York, September (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 27 سبتمبر 2025ء) His remarks came during yesterday’s joint meeting, co-chaired by Albudaiwi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio of Colombia, the current CELAC president, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Albudaiwi noted that the meeting builds on last year’s success, which laid a solid foundation for strategic relations. However, he stressed that the world faces grave challenges since their last meeting, specifically citing the attack on Qatar. He reaffirmed the GCC’s full solidarity with Qatar and its categorical rejection of any targeting that threatens the security of a member state or the region.
Albudaiwi expressed deep concern over the ongoing Israeli aggression and immense human suffering in Gaza, calling for urgent international action. He reiterated the GCC’s firm support for a just and comprehensive solution based on the two-state framework, with an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.
The secretary-general stressed that challenges such as energy security, maritime corridors, combating terrorism, and organized crime require unified efforts between the two regions.
Albudaiwi emphasized that the economies of the GCC countries represent a fundamental pillar of the partnership with CELAC, with a combined GDP of about $1.8 trillion, in addition to substantial investment capabilities and large financial and oil reserves. He highlighted that this provides a solid basis for economic and trade cooperation with CELAC partners, opening broad prospects for mutual growth and investment. He added that CELAC, in turn, has enormous economic potential, with a population of approximately 660 million and a combined GDP of about $7.8 trillion.
Albudaiwi stated that merchandise trade between the GCC and CELAC was estimated at $20–28 billion in 2024. He added that the trade balance favored CELAC during 2023–2024, due to a decline in GCC exports and an increase in imports, particularly food supplies from Brazil and Mexico.
He welcomed CELAC’s proposed cooperation priorities, including energy, digitization, security, and sustainable development, noting they align with the GCC’s ambitious strategies in renewable energy, green hydrogen, digital transformation, and smart infrastructure.
Albudaiwi concluded by expressing the GCC’s readiness to work side by side with CELAC to turn these proposals into concrete programs and joint initiatives that promote inclusive growth, peace, and global stability.
