By Mohammad Nour
(with photos) CAIRO, Nov 15 (KUNA) -- Egypt is placing great emphasis to the Economic, Developmental and Social Summit, due in Kuwait on January 19-20, 2009, an Egyptian official said Saturday.
Egypt is closely monitoring all preparations for the summit in order to come up with recommendations, decisions and draft projects that would meet ambitions of the Arab people, Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ali Hassan told KUNA.
The summit was proposed by Kuwait and Egypt during the 19th Arab Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last year, and was endorsed by the Arab leaders.
He added that the summit in Kuwait would be of great significance and a "turning point" in pan-Arab relations, as it would take place at a time when the financial crisis was englufing the whole world, paving the way for international economic recession.
Pan-Arab trade, infrastructure projects, as well as industrial integration are among the issues topping the summit's agenda, Hassan noted.
He also commended efforts exerted by Kuwait in preparing for the summit by assigning a high committee presided by Deputy Premier and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Faisal Al-Hajji Boukhadour.
Describing the summit as "promising," Hassan said the Arab area's diversity in resources and potentials would significantly contribute to economic integration among Arab countries, which would herald for a sturdy Arab economic structure that was able to compete at regional and global levels.
Meanwhile, Hassan described Kuwaiti-Egyptian relations as "deep-rooted" and progressing at official or popular levels. (end) nor.ez.hb KUNA 150900 Nov 08NNNN