CAIRO, Nov 2 (KUNA) -- Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli reiterated Sunday Cairo's support for political and diplomatic efforts to ensure Lebanon's political and economic stability.
The Egyptian prime minister made the statement while addressing the Egyptian-Lebanese Higher Committee, held in Cairo under co-chairmanship of Madbouli and his Lebanese counterpart Nawaf Salam.
He said Cairo-Beirut relations have recently flourished, citing recent meetings held between both countries' political leaderships to look into bilateral cooperation.
He added that he would visit Lebanon next December, leading a high-level Egyptian ministerial delegation, underlining readiness to help the Lebanese side in a bid to serve this Arab country's stability during the coming period.
Madbouli also reaffirmed his country's opposition to any Israeli occupation presence on the Lebanese soil, voicing support for all necessary steps to shore up the existing situation in Lebanon.
On Lebanon's energy needs, the Egyptian prime minister underlined that Cairo is determined to consolidate bilateral cooperation with Lebanon in this vital sector during the coming period.
He estimated two-way trade exchange between both countries at one billion US dollars last year, affirming that both sides have great potential to double this figure through the efforts of their private sectors.
For his part, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam commended long years of deep relations between Egypt and Lebanon, speaking highly of Egyptian-Lebanese cooperation in the energy area.
Salam invited the Egyptian prime minister to attend a major investment conference due in Lebanon, urging the Egyptian private sector to join the event.
The prime ministers of Egypt and Lebanon then signed 15 agreements covering trade, investment, food security, food safety, power, renewable energy, industry, oil, gas and reconstruction. (end) ism.mt