President of the Republic, Michele Aoun, convened separately on Saturday with Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the Chairman for the Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, and Zhang Ming, China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Boroujerdi, who came along with the Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, relayed to Aoun the salutations of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and chairman of the Parliament of Iran Ali Larijani and their wish to develop bilateral ties on all levels, especially economic ones.
The Iranian official explained his country’s stance from regional developments, particularly in Syria. He hoped that the anticipated Astana talks would lead to a political solution in Syria.
President Aoun, in turn, sent his best regards to his Iranian counterpart and hoped that a political solution would soon be concluded, a thing which would aid in the mammoth crisis of displaced Syrians residing in Lebanon. This crisis had dire consequences on Lebanon’s economy and security. However, the preemptive and alert work of security forces and the Lebanese Armed Forces helped make Lebanon one of the relatively most secure countries in the region.
“The situation is back to normal in Lebanon after the presidential elections,” said Aoun, “and consensus among the Lebanese will lead to further prosperity and peace of mind, especially that the prevailing language of dialogue aims at converging viewpoints.”
The President also convened with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, who relayed to Aoun his counterpart’s wishes for further prosperity for Lebanon and expressed China’s intention to bolster bilateral ties.
Ming noted China’s full support for measures taken by the Lebanese administration to safeguard the country and establish its sovereignty and stability. He voiced his country’s intention to aid Lebanon in fulfilling necessary accomplishments on the social, economic and security levels.
The Lebanese President hailed the historic relations between China and Lebanon, highlighting that Chinese products were on top of Lebanon’s imported goods.
Aoun called for furthering relations and holding touristic excursions between both states. He also asked for China’s help in finding a solution to the Syrian refugees’ crisis, so that the well over million Syrians could go back to their home safely.
Ming once more extended an invitation to Aoun to visit China.
