DUBAI, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Thursday the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit scheduled in Riyadh on Dec. 9 reflected its continued strength despite the political crisis with Qatar.
"The GCC summit in Riyadh is an indication of success of the Gulf Arab bloc despite Qatari crisis," UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said on his official twitter.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have imposed a diplomatic and economic boycott on Qatar since June 2017 over allegations that the tiny gas-rich Gulf country supports terrorism. Qatar denies the charges.
"The main success of the council is in its economic aspects and the creation of a Gulf common market," Gargash added.
"The political crisis will end when the cause behind it ends which is Qatar's support of extremism and its interference in the stability issues of the region," he said.
On Tuesday, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received invitation from Saudi Arabian King Salman to attend the GCC summit.
On Monday, Qatar announced that it will withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as of Jan. 1, 2019, a move seen by some as a rebuke of the Saudi-dominated organization.
