LOC14:17
11:17 GMT
(with photos) DAMASCUS, Dec 22 (KUNA) -- The Head of the Kuwait Foreign Ministry's Economic Department, Ambassador Sheikh Ali Khalid Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, concluded on Monday a visit to Syria where he discussed with senior officials preparations for the upcoming economic summit.
He stated to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) before leaving the country that ideas, views and suggestions were exchanged, during his meeting with the local senior leaders, concerning preparations of the Arab Economic Social and Development Summit, scheduled to be held in Kuwait on January 19.
Sheikh Ali met a number of Syrian officials, namely Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad, Head of Arab Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Saaed Al-Boni, the head of international cooperation department at the Ministry of Finance, Mohammad Essa, and the Head of Arab relations department at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, Abdulhakeem Qaddah.
He said the Syrian officials welcomed the Kuwaiti delegation cordially and showed cooperation and seriousness in working for the success of the economic summit to be held in Kuwait, adding, "This is what we always expect from our brothers in Syria." The two sides discussed various economic activities of the expected summit, including the first meeting of the Arab finance ministers and governors, bedsides the economic forums that will be addressing a number of economic, social and development issues, including the world financial crisis, unemployment, migration, environment, trade, and investment besides other topics.
He stressed that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah invitation of holding the economic summit aims at encouraging the Arab private sectors and Arab investors in order to nudge them to invest in the region, and that after changing the economic and commercial laws and regulations.
Sheik Ali Al-Sabah emphasized the deep Kuwaiti-Syrian relations, and the importance of the continuous cooperation between the two countries.
The Kuwaiti delegation included the Head of economic cooperation department at the Ministry of Finance Yousif Al-Roumi, First Secretary in the economic department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Khalid Al-Mutairi.
Sheikh Ali was bidden farewell at the Syrian airport by the Head of Arab Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Saaed Al-Boni, the Kuwaiti charge D'affaires, Mubarak Mohammed Al-Suhaijan.(end) ak.lb KUNA 221417 Dec 08NNNN