The 166th Gulf Cooperation Council ministerial meeting convened in Manama to prepare for the 46th session of the Supreme Council, with Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi outlining priorities for Gulf integration and international cooperation, Qatar News Agency reported on December 1.

Albudaiwi said the meeting's agenda embodied the dimensions of Gulf integration and reinforced axes of regional and international cooperation.

The 166th Gulf Cooperation Council ministerial meeting in Manama offered familiar language about "Gulf integration" and "building blocks" of cooperation. Still, the gathering exposed the persistent chasm between the bloc's aspirational statements and its track record of delivering on longstanding commitments.

"Today's decisions and recommendations will add a new building block to the edifice of the blessed GCC journey. The depth and breadth of the agenda clearly reflect the regional and international weight of the GCC," he said during his speech.

The secretary general said achievements on the path of Gulf integration were "moving steadily in the right direction, consistent with the aspirations and ambitions of the Gulf peoples towards further interconnection and prosperity."

Albudaiwi added that the General Secretariat continues to work to implement supreme directives and move forward in joint Gulf action to achieve integration among member states.

The ministerial meeting precedes the Supreme Council session, which brings together leaders of the six GCC member states: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

The GCC's flagship economic integration initiatives remain incomplete or stalled. The bloc announced plans for a common currency by 2010, yet Oman withdrew in 2006 citing economic constraints, and the UAE pulled out in 2009 after losing its bid to host the central bank.