Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein described Kuwait and Saudi Arabia as the gates of his country to the Gulf, stressing the need to find a working mechanism with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). During his meeting Sunday with the GCC Secretary-General, Nayef Al-Hajraf, on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue Forum in Bahrain, Hussein said that Iraq is building its relations according to the principle of balance, the activation of common interests, and mutual respect. He praised the historical Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations and the steady rise they are witnessing, noting that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are the gates of Iraq to the Gulf. Hussein and Hajraf touched on the coronavirus pandemic and its health and economic effects. Hussein expressed his hope for a recovery in oil prices after the discovery of the vaccine and the start of vaccination, pointing to the need for Gulf companies to play a role in the process of rebuilding Iraq by investing in the field of infrastructure. The FM called for the formation of a committee to follow up the outcomes of the Kuwait Donor Conference and coordinate with the World Bank, stressing the need to create a mechanism for joint action with the GCC. In turn, Hajraf referred to the GCC’s interest in Iraq, pointing to the signing of several memoranda of understanding, and the keenness to maintain cooperation among the two sides. He expressed his happiness at what "Iraqi-Saudi relations are witnessing from the accelerating and growing bilateral cooperation and the tripartite mechanism between Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt." Hajraf also emphasized the council’s support for the sovereignty, stability, and territorial integrity of Iraq, and the fight against terrorism, saying: “We will not hesitate to support Iraq.” The GCC Secretary-General said that the issue of water, food, and commercial security between the two sides will be present in his upcoming visit to Iraq. During the meeting, the two sides also discussed a number of regional and international issues of common interest, including the tension between Tehran and Washington, and its repercussions on the region.