Cairo: The headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab League in Cairo hosted the extraordinary session of the Arab Economic and Social Council at the ministerial level on Monday. This session is intended to prepare for the fifth session of the Arab Development Summit, scheduled to be held in Iraq next May.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Affairs Sector at the Arab League, emphasized the significance of the meeting in her opening speech. She noted the session’s role in setting the stage for the upcoming Arab Economic and Social Development Summit amidst the exceptional circumstances facing the region and international developments.

Abu Ghazaleh highlighted the need for thorough preparation for the summit, proposing priority topics for joint Arab economic and social development efforts. She pointed out the ongoing inhumane practices by the occupying power in the Gaza Strip and other Palestinian territories, and the adverse effects on Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. She also mentioned the negative impact of armed conflicts and instability on development achievements in the region.

She stressed that despite these challenges, the decision to hold the fifth session of the Arab Development Summit demonstrates Arab solidarity in economic and social domains that impact citizens’ lives. It also reflects a commitment to confronting difficult circumstances and challenges collectively.

Abu Ghazaleh concluded by stating that the meeting aimed to bolster joint Arab economic and social initiatives, focusing on the most vulnerable groups needing social protection. This approach seeks to affirm the Arab region’s leadership, leverage its substantial human and natural resources, and secure its rightful place among global regions.