The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, met on Wednesday, 10^th October 2018 at the GCC headquarters in Riyadh a delegation of officials and students from the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

HE the Secretary-General welcomed the delegation and praised the role of the Institute which aims to train Saudi personnel and provide them with the preparation, training and qualifications required to join the Saudi diplomatic corps at home and abroad. He highlighted the respect and appreciation which Saudi diplomacy receives internationally, and its political efforts to strengthen the Kingdom's high regional and international standing.

The Secretary-General commended the preparatory program organized by the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies for training and qualifying its students, underlining that increasing knowledge and developing skills is the most effective means of achieving outstanding results in high-level education and qualification for leadership development. He referred also to the ongoing partnership between the GCC and the Institute regarding training programs, specialized workshops, and exchanging information.

The Secretary-General stressed the importance of diplomatic work in developing relations between States in protecting their interests and in strengthening their position in the internationally, pointing out that our Islamic and Arab history is full of models and honorable examples that reflect the importance of diplomacy in achieving close relations between countries and the consolidation of social ties. He emphasize that successful diplomacy required commitment to established values and principles, including honesty, integrity, communication, collaboration and trust.

He also praised the vital and active role the GCC plays as a regional organization to support stability in the region, and protecting the national interests of its peoples, in addition to the great contributions it makes settling regional issues and enhancing international peace and security.

During the meeting, Dr. Abdulaziz Hamad Al-Owaishek GCC Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Negotiations, explained the role the GCC plays in strengthening its relations internationally and with the economic blocs through strategic dialogues, partnerships, memorandums of understanding, and detailed action plans covering fields including ; political, defense, security, economic and social, noting that they benefit both the GCC countries as well as others.

Dr.Al-Owaishek added that since its establishment, the GCC has become an influential economic force in the region and its countries have endeavored to become an effective strategic political force to achieve its objectives, protect its interests, and strengthen its relations with various countries through constructive strategic dialogues.

Further, HE Abdulaziz Al-Nasser the GCC Director General for Information and Strategic Planning gave a presentation that included the GCC vision and its strategic objectives, as well as its achievements in the political, defense, security, economic and social fields.

At the end of the meeting, the Secretary-General addressed the questions and comments of the students, focusing on the GCC journey and its aspirations, goals and achievements that strengthen its regional and international standing.

For his part, HE Dr. Adel bin Hassan Al Omrani Managing Official of Preparatory Programs at the Institute, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to HE the Secretary General and the officials of the Secretariat for the warm reception they extended to the delegation of the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies, and the inclusive and valuable information they provided on collective Gulf actions and the efforts of the GCC to enhance and promote its achievements in all fields, wishing the GCC Secretariat and its employees success and prosperity.