Manama: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have launched their second Asian drive to highlight their identity and promote closer links with the international community.
The GCC Days opened in Tokyo on Wednesday with a massive participation by media and economy figures, diplomats and academics from the Gulf and Japan.
The three-day event on April 22-24 includes economic, political and media seminars and aims to consolidate cooperation, friendship and open dialogue between the GCC countries and Japan.
The GCC, established in 1981, comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Tokyo is the second Asian capital to host the days after South Korea’s Seoul in 2011. The other eight GCC days were held in Paris, Brussels, Berlin, The Hague, Madrid, Rome, London and Stockholm.
“The GCC Days seek to highlight the Gulf identity and the myriad of achievements accomplished by the Gulf countries,” Maysa Al Dhawadi, Director of Follow-Up at Bahrain’s Information Affairs Authority, said. “They also foster friendship and bolster ties with the countries where they are being held. It is a rich intercultural exchange that promotes understanding among nations and between peace-loving people.”
The first seminar addresses economic cooperation between the GCC and Japan and ways to reinforce them and to boost the exchange of expertise in various economic areas.
“The second seminar will focus on consolidation cooperation in higher education, scientific research, technology transfer and on the GCC efforts to elevate the status of dialogue among civilizations,” Maysa said. “The third seminar sheds light on ways to enhance media cooperation and the role of the media in boosting understanding and managing various situations.”
Maysa will present a paper on the role of the media in dealing with natural tragedies and man-made disasters and Mohammed Taher Al Qattan, the head of religious affairs at the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, will talk in his remarks on behalf of Bahrain about the GCC efforts in boosting dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions.
Several cultural and recreational activities are being held on the sidelines of the GCC days as a means to highlight the Gulf culture and identity.
“The GCC Days were launched to reach out to the international community and help people gain greater insights into the GCC identity, culture and achievements. The GCC common drive, in line with the GCC media strategy, also includes highlighting political advances and social accomplishments at international events,” Maysa said.
“The foreign media officials in the GCC member states together organise such joint events to convey the reality on the ground in our countries and to share with the international community our progress in several fields. Unfortunately, not all people are aware of the GCC as it truly is. Not many people are aware that the GCC bases its contribution to the civilised world on a culture that values high moral qualities that include peace, tolerance and cooperation and understanding with all communities, as well as on a sound forward-looking education and advantageous advancements across a wide spectrum of fields,” Maysa said.
It is highly significant that misconceptions and misleading information about the GCC are properly addressed so that the genuine facts and the correct details that are at times misinterpreted or ignored are clearly explained and made available to all people, she added.
