Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz will chair in Riyadh on Tuesday the 40th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit.

Riyadh has previously hosted the GCC summit on eight occasions.

GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani said the Kingdom’s hosting of the meeting reflects its leadership’s keenness on the council, which has proven its ability to overcome challenges and achieve its higher goals.

He hailed King Salman’s leadership and his dedicated efforts to bolster the GCC out of his belief in the strength of fraternal relations among the bloc’s member states.

In remarks to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), he congratulated Saudi Arabia for assuming the presidency of the G20, saying this reflects the Kingdom’s high economic standing in the world and its constructive role in backing developing countries and regional issues.

He hoped the GCC summit will achieve the aspirations of the Gulf people in achieving greater cooperation between their countries.

The agenda is full of issues that aim to boost joint Gulf work in various political, economic, defense, security and legal fields. The Gulf leaders are also expected to tackle key regional and international affairs.