The Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Wednesday sealed an agreement to cooperate in areas from politics to economy and science. The accord brings closer two of the most influential organisations in the Islamic world, with the Arab League representing 22 Middle East states and the OIC 57 members and 1.5 billion Muslims world-wide.
They agreed to develop Arab-Islamic relations "to preserve and develop mutual interests and to resist colonialism, Zionism and racism, exploitation and terrorism in all its forms," the two organisations said in a joint statement.
They also agreed to regularly exchange views on political issues of interest to Arab and Islamic countries, to allow each other's observers at their meetings, and to meet to co-ordinate positions and policies ahead of international forums such as the UN General Assembly. They also agreed to form a joint committee that convenes annually to monitor the execution of the pact's clauses.