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17:34 GMT
(with photos) CAIRO, Nov 20 (KUNA) -- The Arab Economic, Social and Development Summit, to be held in Kuwait on January 19-20, 2009, will be a unique event and fulfill the aspirations of Arab people, Arab League Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs Ambassador Mohammad Bin-Ibrahim Al-Toweijri said on Thursday.
"The summit will tackle issues that concern all Arabs in their pursuit of sustainable socio-economic development through a viable objective perspective, " he told KUNA following the meeting of the follow-up committee at the Arab League's headquarters here.
"The meeting, presided over by Kuwaiti Minister of Finance Mustafa Jassim Al-Shimali, reviewed preparation for the summit and its draft agenda which is being worked out in line with the relevant resolution adopted by the last Arab summit.
"The suggestion for holding the planned summit, conceived by Kuwait and Egypt, was approved by the Arab Summit in Riyadh in 2007," he pointed out.
"The mainstream tendency among participants in the meeting is that the summit should adopt a declaration outlining the main guidelines of cooperation in the fields of economy, commerce, tourism, transport, education and culture as well as cooperation among the Arab civil society institutions.
"Among the key projects on top of the draft agenda of the summit is the hookup of Arab railway networks and power grids.
"The meeting reviewed the relevant feasibility studies and the viable plans to finance the project in cooperation with the private sector.
"There will be a mechanism for following up the implementation of the project with the Arab League and specialized organizations involved.
"Prior to Kuwait summit, the governors of the central banks and ministers of finance of the Arab countries will hold a meeting to probe the impacts of the current international financial crisis on their economies.
"The meeting is expected to develop recommendations that will be referred to the summit for final endorsement," Al-Toweijri added. (end) kz.mfm.gb.
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