His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), received His Excellency Mr Zhai Jun, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue, today, Sunday, March 8, 2026, at the General Secretariat’s headquarters in Riyadh.
At the beginning of the meeting, His Excellency Mr Albudaiwi expressed his appreciation for China's stance in condemning the treacherous Iranian attacks on Council states and the efforts exerted by China with all parties to halt the conflict and end Iranian military aggressions. He emphasised that such efforts enhance security and stability and safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of GCC states. His Excellency the GCC Secretary General further affirmed that the GCC has never been a party to any armed conflict, but has consistently remained a supporter of peace and the resolution of disputes through constructive dialogue between all parties.
For his part, His Excellency the Special Envoy of the Chinese Government praised the wise policies pursued by the GCC states at the domestic, regional, and international levels, which have established the Council as a reliable and vital partner for China. He pointed out that the GCC's commitment to restraint during this crisis is a testament to these prudent policies. He also commended the outcomes of the Emergency GCC Ministerial Meeting, which underscored that dialogue and negotiations are the only solution to the current crisis.
During the meeting, both sides emphasised that current regional developments and challenges necessitate intensified coordination and joint consultation to maintain security and stability in the region and the world.
The meeting also reviewed bilateral relations between the GCC and the People's Republic of China and ways to strengthen them to serve mutual interests. Discussions covered updates regarding the China-GCC Summit scheduled for this year, as well as the progress of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between the two sides.
