By Ahmed Asmar
Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates agreed to establish a joint business council, according to a statement on Thursday.
The announcement was made during a meeting in Abu Dhabi between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to a joint Lebanese-Emirati statement.
It quoted Sheikh Mohamed as reaffirming his country's commitment to Lebanon’s security, stability, and sovereignty, and the joint work between the two nations.
The Lebanese president, for his part, stressed the importance of deepening bilateral ties and expressed appreciation for the UAE’s continued support for Lebanon and its people.
The two sides agreed to share the UAE’s successful experiences in government performance, institutional excellence, and public sector development with Lebanon.
The statement noted that a delegation from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development will visit Lebanon to assess potential areas of cooperation.
On Wednesday, Aoun arrived in the UAE for an official two-day visit, during which he met the country's leader Sheikh Mohamed.
Lebanon continues to grapple with the devastating aftermath of Israel’s year-long war, which ended last November but continues with sporadic attacks, exacerbating the country’s already crippling economic and humanitarian crisis.