Saudi king, Lebanese president discuss Mideast developments

Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz and visiting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman held talks on the latest development in the Middle East, Saudi Arab News newspaper reported Sunday.

"King Abdullah and Suleiman discussed the overall state of affairs in the region ahead of an Arab summit to be held in Libya, " the paper quoted an Arab diplomat as saying on condition of anonymity.

The meeting covered several topics, particularly the developments in the Palestinian territories and Iraq as well as threats from Israel against Lebanon, the diplomat added.

"The threat posed by Israel was the most important issue on the agenda," he said.

During his two-day visit, the Lebanese president will also be looking forward to promoting economic relations with the kingdom.

Chairman of the Saudi-Lebanese Business Council Abdulmuhsin al- Hukair said that the kingdom is a key player in the Lebanese economy, with investments amounting to over 16 billion Saudi riyals (4.27 billion U.S. dollars) in real estate, services and banking, a figure he expects to hit 20 billion by 2011.

Later on Sunday, Suleiman will meet representatives from the Lebanese community in the kingdom and visit the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

Source: Xinhua