Mikati Holds Talks with World Leaders in Scotland on Ways to Resolve Lebanon’s Crisis with Gulf

Mikati meets with French President Macron in Glasgow on Monday. (Reuters)
Mikati meets with French President Macron in Glasgow on Monday. (Reuters)
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Mikati Holds Talks with World Leaders in Scotland on Ways to Resolve Lebanon’s Crisis with Gulf

Mikati meets with French President Macron in Glasgow on Monday. (Reuters)
Mikati meets with French President Macron in Glasgow on Monday. (Reuters)

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati held talks in Glasgow on Monday with various world leaders on ways to resolve Beirut’s dispute with the Gulf in wake of Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi’s offensive remarks against Saudi Arabia.

Mikati, who was taking part in the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, met with French President Emmanuel Macron, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and acting German Chancellor Angela Merkel

The PM held a series of meetings with Arab and international leaders on the situation in Lebanon, ways to support it and end its current crisis, said a statement from his press office.

Mikati also met with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who informed him he will dispatch his foreign minister to Beirut to address pending issues and the Gulf dispute.

Mikati also met with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Sabah Khalid al-Hamad Al Sabah. Talks focused on “Lebanon’s keenness on the close relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council and efforts to address any problem through the spirit of fraternity and cooperation.”

Sheikh Khalid informed Mikati of Kuwait’s keenness on Lebanon and its constant efforts to support it in all fields. “At the same time, it is also keen on the unity of the GCC state,” he added, according to Mikati’s office.

“Lebanon can address any problem and it will find all the necessary support from Kuwait and other Arab countries,” he stressed.

Mikati held talks with European Council President Charles Michel on ways the bloc can support Lebanon. He met with International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva, who informed him that the organization was determined to help Lebanon resolve its current crisis.



China's Xi Visits Morocco, Meets with Crown Prince

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
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China's Xi Visits Morocco, Meets with Crown Prince

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a short visit to Morocco on Thursday, according to state media from both countries.
Xi was welcomed in Casablanca by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and the visit reflected the strong bonds of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, Morocco's MAP said.
The Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch met Xi at the airport, where Xi and Hassan had a "cordial conversation", China's state broadcaster CCTV said.
Xi made the visit after being in Brazil for the G20 Summit.
China has stepped up investments in Morocco's infrastructure and rail sector in recent years.
Morocco's geographic location close to Europe, its free trade agreements with key EU and US markets and its existing automotive industry, make it attractive to Chinese electric vehicle battery makers.
In June, Chinese EV battery manufacturer Gotion High Tech picked Morocco to set up Africa's first gigafactory for a total cost of $1.3 billion.