The preparatory meeting of the Arab Social and Economic Development Summit, which will be hosted by Beirut on Sunday, was held in Lebanon in light of the decline in the level of representation of the largest number of Arab countries and in the absence of Syria, whose membership was suspended years ago. .
The Arab Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Ministers of the Economic and Social Council at their meeting yesterday approved an agenda of 29 items relating to the economic and social conditions in the Arab countries, including the Greater Free Trade Area, the Arab Food Security Initiative and the Sustainable Energy Strategy.
Among the topics to be discussed at the Fourth Session of the Summit is the completion of the requirements for the establishment of the Arab Customs Union, as well as a special item to support the Palestinian economy, including the Strategic Plan for Sectoral Development in Jerusalem (2018-2022) and the achievements of the Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Funds.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit told a news conference in Beirut yesterday that "there were no sharp differences or difficulties in approving the items that were presented to participants in the Arab Economic Development Summit."
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz were confirmed at tomorrow's summit, while all presidents and other leaders apologized for their participation.