Lebanese, Moroccan PMs hold talks in Beirut

Moroccan Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, held talks in Beirut Friday with Lebanese peer, Rafiq al-Hariri on issues of common concern and on the world situation in light of the recent developments.

Youssoufi and al-Hariri also surveyed relations between Morocco and Lebanon and items on the agenda of the Moroccan-Lebanese high joint commission that will open this Saturday.

The two sides called for coordination among Arab countries to face up the difficult juncture that the world is currently going through.

The talks were attended by Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohammed Benaissa, Lebanese foreign affairs and expatriates minister, Mahmoud Hamoud, Lebanese state minister, Bechara Morahhaj and Moroccan ambassador to lebanon, Abdeljalil Fenjiro.

The Moroccan-Lebanese commission session, convening October 20-21, will highlight by the signing of eight accords, related to non-double taxation, struggle against tax evasion, encouragement and protection of investments, and cooperation in the realms of economy, culture, tourism and environment protection.

The meeting will also be marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the setting up of a free-trade area between Morocco and Lebanon and a protocol of cooperation between the two countries' agriculture departments.

Youssoufi is accompanied by a large ministerial delegation, including minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, minister of agriculture and rural development, Ismail Alaoui, minister of industry, trade, energy and mines, Mustapha Mansouri, minister of transport and merchant navy, Abdeslam Znined, and minister of culture and communication, Mohamed Al Achaari.

Businessmen, economic operators and journalists are also part of the delegation.

After Beirut, the Prime Minister will visit Damascus and Amman to chair the meetings of the Moroccan-Syrian and Moroccan-Jordanian joint commissions.