RIYADH: Leaders of several countries sent messages of thanks to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman following the conclusion on Friday of the first joint summit of Gulf Cooperation Council and Association of Southeast Asian Nations members, which took place in Riyadh.

Bahrain’s King Hamad expressed his gratitude to his Saudi counterpart for hosting the event, which was chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and hailed the deep-rooted historic relations and close cooperation between their two countries and their peoples, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday

He also commended the outcomes of the summit, which he said will help to strengthen and consolidate relations with ASEAN countries, and wished Saudi Arabia further progress and prosperity.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad thanked the Saudi king and crown prince for their hospitality during the summit. In two separate messages, he expressed his hopes that the event will help to enhance relations between GCC and ASEAN states, and his sincerest best wishes for the good health of the king and crown prince, and for further progress and prosperity for the Kingdom.

Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah similarly praised Saudi Arabia for hosting the summit, which he said consolidated the important and pivotal role of the Kingdom at the regional and global levels.

It also reflected the Saudi leadership’s desire to develop and expand cooperation and existing relations among the participating countries in all fields, and to enhance discussions about issues of mutual concern amid ongoing global challenges, he added.

Sheikh Mishal commended the work that had contributed to the success of the summit, and said he hopes the fruitful discussions and recommendations during the event will succeed in enhancing the Gulf-Asian partnership and help build a prosperous future for all of the participating states.

He thanked the Saudi king and crown prince for the warm welcome and generous hospitality that he and his delegation had received, which he said embodied the deep fraternal ties and strong historical connections between the two countries and their peoples.