Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, on Thursday inaugurated the Pacific Islands-Arab league summit.
Shaikh Abdullah called for constructive cooperation in economic, social and political areas between the Arab World and the Pacific Islands to face up to the challenges faced by the two blocs.
In his opening speech at the conference on Prospects of Cooperation between the Arab World and Pacific Islands, Shaikh Abdullah urged for establishing strong diplomatic ties between the Arab countries and the Pacific Islands to find ways to cope with the shortage in food, water scarcity and climate change.
Amr Mousa, Secretary General of the Arab League, suggested the UN Security Council should address the climate change issue and the ensuing social, economic, and political problems.
He said the final communiqué of the conference will call for setting up an Arab-Pacific Cooperation Forum with the UAE being its rapporteur. He said Arab countries will also seek to benefit from the experience of the Pacific Islands in setting a Nuclear Free Middle East.
The summit is attended by 14 foreign ministers from the Pacific Islands and 21 foreign ministers from Arab countries. Foreign ministers from Australia and New Zealand are also attending the summit.
With inputs from WAM
