ID :
146680
Tue, 10/19/2010 - 18:27
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http://m.oananews.org//node/146680
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UK hosts series of events to boost ties with Persian Gulf states
London, Oct 19, IRNA - The British Government is committed to elevating the UK’s relationships with the countries of the Persian Gulf, Foreign Secretary William Hague said Tuesday at the start of a series of events to boost ties with the Arab littoral states.
“The UK and the (Persian) Gulf states have historic ties on which we are determined to build. And we already work closely on regional issues including the Middle East Peace Process, combating nuclear proliferation, and supporting stability in Yemen,” Hague said.
He said that he hoped events and activities over the next two weeks “will provide opportunities for this cooperation to deepen, and for our countries to discover further areas in which to work together.”
Foreign Office Minister for Trade Henry Bellingham was hosting a seminar in London Tuesday under the banner of (P)GCC Days in Europe Expo, when he was due to call on the private sectors in the UK and the Arab states to take advantage of trade opportunities.
“The (Persian) Gulf States are major players in the international economy, and have weathered the recent global economic downturn. With an overall GDP of $1.2 trillion, they constitute the UK’s 7th largest export market – bigger than China and India combined,” Bellingham said.
In advance extracts of his speech, he said that the UK wanted to be the littoral states’ “commercial partner of choice” and announced the creation of a “Middle East Task Force within UK Trade and Investment aimed at enhancing collaboration across British business.”
The (P)GCC Days in Europe Expo was officially launched with a night of folklore music on Monday with Kuwaiti Television Band. On Tuesday, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne was hosting a European Future Energy Forum.
Middle East Minister Alistair Burt was making a keynote speech at an Abu Dhabi Investment Forum on Wednesday, while International Development Minister Alan Duncan was addressing Chatham House on further enhancing bridges between the UK and the six Arab states.
Attention was being turned to the role of women in the development of (P)GCC states on Thursday, with Conservative co-chair Baroness Warsi, making a keynote speech.
The Foreign Office said that Hague had made relations with Arab states in the Persian Gulf an “early priority of our foreign policy” with ministers devoting time and energy on this, including through our new National Security Council.
“Seeking opportunities for British business in the (Persian) Gulf is a key part of this effort, at the same time as working more closely on regional and global issues and establishing meaningful dialogues on issues such as human rights,” it said./end
“The UK and the (Persian) Gulf states have historic ties on which we are determined to build. And we already work closely on regional issues including the Middle East Peace Process, combating nuclear proliferation, and supporting stability in Yemen,” Hague said.
He said that he hoped events and activities over the next two weeks “will provide opportunities for this cooperation to deepen, and for our countries to discover further areas in which to work together.”
Foreign Office Minister for Trade Henry Bellingham was hosting a seminar in London Tuesday under the banner of (P)GCC Days in Europe Expo, when he was due to call on the private sectors in the UK and the Arab states to take advantage of trade opportunities.
“The (Persian) Gulf States are major players in the international economy, and have weathered the recent global economic downturn. With an overall GDP of $1.2 trillion, they constitute the UK’s 7th largest export market – bigger than China and India combined,” Bellingham said.
In advance extracts of his speech, he said that the UK wanted to be the littoral states’ “commercial partner of choice” and announced the creation of a “Middle East Task Force within UK Trade and Investment aimed at enhancing collaboration across British business.”
The (P)GCC Days in Europe Expo was officially launched with a night of folklore music on Monday with Kuwaiti Television Band. On Tuesday, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne was hosting a European Future Energy Forum.
Middle East Minister Alistair Burt was making a keynote speech at an Abu Dhabi Investment Forum on Wednesday, while International Development Minister Alan Duncan was addressing Chatham House on further enhancing bridges between the UK and the six Arab states.
Attention was being turned to the role of women in the development of (P)GCC states on Thursday, with Conservative co-chair Baroness Warsi, making a keynote speech.
The Foreign Office said that Hague had made relations with Arab states in the Persian Gulf an “early priority of our foreign policy” with ministers devoting time and energy on this, including through our new National Security Council.
“Seeking opportunities for British business in the (Persian) Gulf is a key part of this effort, at the same time as working more closely on regional and global issues and establishing meaningful dialogues on issues such as human rights,” it said./end
