ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Tuesday signed a MoU providing institutional framework to formally launch Pakistan-GCC strategic dialogue in Abu Dhabi. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar led the Pakistan delegation at the ministerial-level meeting chaired by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of the UAE. UAE is the current chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). All GCC member States participated in the meeting. Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah of UAE and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar signed the MoU launching the Pakistan-GCC strategic dialogue. The MoU provided the institutional framework for this dialogue. Addressing the meeting, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs underscored the immense potential of mutually beneficial partnership between the GCC and Pakistan. She added that further strengthening Pakistan-GCC relations would remain a cardinal principle of Pakistans Foreign Policy. Khar stressed on the Islamic/Arab collective strength. She added that the GCC-Pakistan institutional relationship would provide new impetus towards optimising and realising the tremendous potential that our geographic proximity, solidarity and economic complementary confer on us. She called for early finalisation of the Pakistan-GCC free trade agreement. The Minister of State requested the GCC countries to continue to support flood affectees by contributing to Pakistans Citizen Compensation Fund. The UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs welcomed the commencement of Pakistan-GCC Strategic Dialogue, adding that Pakistan had always been an important ally for the GCC. The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister said that Pakistan had immense potential. She said that Pakistan continued to follow these developments at the global and regional plans with close attention and primary focus on that stability and peace must remain our watchwords. She said that unity; territorial integrity and political independence of sovereign states must be respected. Non-interference and non-intervention must remain the guiding principles. She was of the view that this Strategic Dialogue presented us with an invaluable opportunity to exchange views; benefit from each others perspective; coordinate positions; and, more importantly, when and wherever required, to concert efforts in the interest of protecting the interests of the Islamic and Arab Ummah, coherently, comprehensively and effectively. She pointed out that Pakistan was a force of moderation in the Muslim Ummah and was a highly advanced scientific country. The Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister termed Pakistans relations with GCC countries historical and strong. He added that the GCC-Pakistan MoU would be a milestone in strengthening relations between Pakistan and Gulf region; he further added that they looked to Pakistan to play an important role in the development of science and technology in Gulf countries. The successful launching of the GCC-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue augured well for the region and for Pakistans relations with the GCC countries.