The 23rd Joint GCC-EU Ministerial Meeting begins today here in Manama, chaired by Bahraini Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, in the presence of the Representative of the EU High Commission for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Katherine Ashton and GCC foreign ministers. This meeting comes as part of a series of previous lengthy meetings convened over 23 years since the 1988 Cooperation Frame Agreement was signed between the two sides establishing a contractual relationship to consolidate comprehensive mutual cooperation on equal footing between both blocs which are considered the biggest economic and trade blocs worldwide and to boost their economic development in accordance with mutual interests.