Lusaka, Dhu-AlQa'dah 5, 1439, Jul 18, 2018, SPA -- General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) participated in the 20th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), which began today, in the capital of the Republic of Zambia, Lusaka. The Assistant Secretary-General of the GCC for Political Affairs and Negotiations Dr. Abdulaziz Hamad Al-Owaisheq, who participates, in the summit, stressed that strengthening relations between the GCC and the African continent is among priorities of the GCC, at the current stage. GCC Ministerial Council approved a plan to move into a number of African countries, with a plan based on three tracks: the course of political consultations, the course of economic cooperation and the path of cultural communication, he said. GCC Secretariat concluded a memorandum of understanding with COMESA, in 2010, focusing on economic cooperation. GCC and COMESA are currently developing their cooperation in the economic, trade and development fields, he said, adding that their cooperation is aimed at opening African markets to Gulf exports and increasing investment rates. Al-Owaisheq pointed out that the Gulf Action Plan, in Africa, aims at enhancing economic development rates in the continent and opening new horizons for the Gulf private sector to invest, in Africa. At the same time, the plan aims to achieve political and security convergence that contributes to enhancing security and stability, in African countries, in the face of terrorism and extremism and external interference in their internal affairs. -- SPA 21:33 LOCAL TIME 18:33 GMT 0036 www.spa.gov.sa/w718695