Strategic dialogue meetings held separately by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states with Australia and Japan concluded here Wednesday.

GCC Assistant Secretary General for Strategic Dialogue and Negotiations Affairs Abdulaziz Al-Ouwaisheq said in press remarks that a joint plan of action between the GCC member states and Australia has been initially approved.

He added that the agreement would be sent to the coming ministerial meeting of the GCC-Australian foreign ministers in mid-September.

The deal mainly includes political cooperation that involves views and visions on key political issues, he added.

It also aims to set up working teams for economic activities, higher education, scientific research, energy, investment, tourism and culture, he pointed out.

Both sides had hammered out a memo of understanding in Abu Dhabi in March 2011, targeting closer cooperation in political, economic and cultural areas.

On GCC-Japan strategic dialogue, a plan of action was signed for 2012-2015, focusing on a further development and promotion of economic, trade and investment relations.

The joint plan also involves political and security aspects, a Bahraini official said.

The GCC-Japan meeting discussed environment, energy, investment, industry and agriculture, Undersecretary of the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Regional and GCC Affairs Hamad Al-Amer said.