(MENAFN- Alghad Newspaper)
AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah II and Lebanese President Michel Aoun held a summit on Tuesday on cementing Jordanian-Lebanese ties as well as regional developments, including the Syrian crisis and its ramifications on the two countries.
During a one-on-one encounter followed by an expanded meeting at Basman Palace attended by top officials on both sides, His Majesty stressed the "deep, historic" ties between the two countries, voicing Jordan's support of the "Lebanese brothers" and calling for building more bridges of cooperation.
The two leaders agreed to hold a meeting of the Joint Jordanian-Lebanese Higher Committee "as soon as possible" to lay out a working plan to boost relations and reach a free trade agreement between them.
They also agreed to convene a Jordanian-Lebanese business forum, activate a maritime route between Lebanese ports and the Port of Aqaba and forge economic integration in financial, technological, industrial, tourism and agricultural fields.
The meeting dealt with the possibility to use Aqaba port as a springboard for Lebanese goods to regional and global markets and work jointly to explore African markets.
The leaders also discussed security and civil defence cooperation as well as raising the capabilities of the Lebanese army, with the King reiterating Jordan's support of Lebanon's stability.
On Syria, they emphasised the need to build on recent international efforts within the Astana meetings to solidify a Syria ceasefire toward finding a political solution along the lines of the Geneva peace talks.
A key focus of the talks was the burdens of the Syrian refugee problem on Jordan and Lebanon, where the leaders agreed on the need to forge a unified stance on the crisis, which had security, economic and social ramifications on countries neighbouring Syria.
On terrorism, emphasis was laid on intensifying regional and global efforts to fight terrorism within a holistic strategy as it endangers the security and stability of the entire world.
During the talks, attended by top-ranking Jordanian and Lebanese officials, King Abdullah and president Aoun stressed the importance of holding the annual Arab summit in Jordan, and were unanimous that the unity of Arab ranks and institutionalized joint Arab action are the guarantor to bypass challenges facing the Arab world.
The Lebanese leader said his country highly appreciated Jordan's position in support of Lebanon's national unity and stability and the King's pivotal role to achieve regional security and stability and fight terrorism.
He urged the world community to deliver on aid pledges to help Jordan and Lebanon bear the burden of hosting Syrian refugees and continue to provide humanitarian and relief service to them.
His Majesty hosted a luncheon for the Lebanese president, which was attended by senior officials from the two countries.
(Petra)
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