RIYADH: Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jassim Al-Budaiwi said the sixth joint ministerial meeting of strategic dialogue between the Gulf countries and Russia, scheduled to be held in Moscow on Monday, “seeks to strengthen relations and serve the interests of the two sides.”

In a statement on Saturday, Al-Budaiwi said various topics which will be discussed in order to increase cooperation and provide an opportunity to exchange views on a number of regional and international issues.

The secretary-general described relations between the GCC and Russia as “distinguished,” and said the two sides had signed a memorandum of understanding regarding strategic dialogue in November 2011, an indication of their “desire to move toward cementing their links and building strong ties.”

He added that the GCC, through the directives of the leaders of its member states, is “always working to cooperate and build relations with all countries and regional blocs, in an effort to increase and intensify the regional and international presence of the GCC by establishing strategic partnerships with multiple parties of the international community.”