Lebanon keen on economic, political, cultural issues at Afro-Arab Summit

The Africa-Arab Summit will support relations between both regions on economic, political and cultural issues, said the Lebanese foreign minister, who added that he would be working towards the goal during his attendance of the event in Kuwait. "Several bilateral sideline meetings are expected to be held at the event to discuss current issues in the regions and matters that are associated with Lebanon and its community in Africa," Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Adnan Mansour told reporters before departing for Kuwait to attend the Third Africa-Arab Summit on Friday. He described his country's relations with Kuwait as "solid," adding that Lebanon is strongly committed to this relationship and its development. "We will assure during our visit that they (Kuwaitis) are welcome to return to Lebanon as they did before, and that they should put their trust in the security and political situation," he said, in reference to the drop in numbers of Kuwaiti tourists to the country. The summit is expected to kick off on Tuesday in the attendance of Arab and African leaders, along with the Arab League and African Union commission chiefs. It is the first summit held outside of the African continent and comes three years after the most recent held in Sirte, Libya in 2010, with the next to follow suit in three years' time.