Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Royal Court of Safa Palace in Mecca. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), they reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the region.
Salam appreciated the fact that Saudi Arabia has welcomed hundreds of thousands of Lebanese working on its territory. He stressed the need to move forward in strengthening the partnership between the two countries, particularly with regard to draft agreements between them, noting the efforts made by both parties to achieve the lifting of the ban on exports from Lebanon and to allow Saudis to travel to Lebanon, stressing that Lebanon continues to pursue financial and institutional reforms to activate investment and promote the country's economy.
Salam also stressed that the Lebanese government continues to extend its authority over its entire territory with its own forces, in accordance with the Taif Agreement, in order to achieve security and stability in the country and provide a safe environment for investors and tourists, calling on Saudi Arabia to support Lebanon in this endeavor in order to regain the trust of its citizens, as well as that of its Arab and friendly countries around the world.
For his part, the Saudi Crown Prince affirmed that the Kingdom always stands by Lebanon and wishes to restore its prosperity in various fields by establishing security and stability and carrying out the necessary reforms, calling for the need to take advantage of all the opportunities available today to achieve this and to emerge from crises.
The Lebanese and Saudi sides stressed the need to restore security and stability in Syria, especially as any security instability in Syria will have negative repercussions on Lebanon and the region. The Lebanese Prime Minister thanked the Saudi Crown Prince for the Kingdom's efforts to launch the process of controlling and demarcating the Lebanese-Syrian border, and to settle other outstanding issues between the two countries.
Prime Minister Salam performed the Eid al-Fitr prayer at the Grand Mosque with the Saudi Crown Prince in the presence of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Prince Yazid bin Farhan and Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari.
Salam arrived in Jeddah at dawn. He was welcomed at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Prince Saud bin Meshal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Amir of Mecca, Prince Yazid bin Mohammed bin Farhan, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Bukhari.
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