Economic relations between Syria, Lebanon highlighted
Lebanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nasser al-Saedi has described trade and economic relations between Syria and Lebanon as strategic.
He stressed that results of implementing the customs tariff reduction agreement between the two countries are good. This improvement has come since the beginning of 1999, the Lebanese minister added, SANA reported.
In an arrival statement to SANA's correspondent at the Lebanese - Syrian border point on Sunday, where he was welcomed by his Syrian counterpart Muhammad al-Imadi, the Lebanese minister added that his talks with Syrian officials will deal with means of developing strategic relations, focusing on the issues of trade, encouraging private investment in the two countries and developing Syrian-Lebanese trade with foreign countries.
He added that other issues of mutual concern between Syria and Lebanon include relations with the European Union, with whom both Syria and Lebanon are negotiating to sign an association agreement. He noted several proposed projects to develop and increase investment, including the setting up of a Syrian-Lebanese holding company responsible for setting up joint ventures and projects in the two countries.
The Syrian minister, for his part, underlined the importance of developing relations between Syria and Lebanon. He noted the desire to reach an integrated and growing economy between the two countries. The Syrian minister added that talks with the Lebanese side will deal with means of eliminating all obstacles in order to develop bilateral cooperation and ways of maintaining ties between Syrian and Lebanese communities in their new countries and investing their potential in supporting development, trade and investment cooperation in all fields with the Arab countries.
Later in the day, the Syrian deputy premier for economic affairs, Salim Yassin, met with the Lebanese minister. Talks dealt with bilateral relations between the two countries on various levels of the economy, trade, industry and agriculture.
The two sides also reviewed the report of the joint Syrian - Lebanese higher committee's meeting being held in Beirut, preparing studies, proposing suggestions and programs to be presented to the higher committee in its next meeting under the chairmanship of the two countries' prime ministers and the measures being taken concerning the exchange of industrial commodities produced in both countries and all the facilities available to support cooperation between the two countries.