Yemen, Syria accords aim to foster economic projects [Archives:2007/1020/Front Page]
By: Yasser Al-Mayasi
SANA'A, Jan. 29 – Activities of the Joint Yemeni-Syrian Higher Committee's seventh round are wrapping up today in the Syrian capital of Damascus. Both governments reached numerous economic agreements during the session.
Meeting participants discussed several issues and agreements of mutual interest to both Arab states. Yemeni Prime Minister Abdulqader Bajammal co-chaired the event with his Syrian counterpart, Mohammed Naji Etri. Many Syrian and Yemeni ministers and senior officials also attended.
The session followed results of discussions in Aden between President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.
During its meeting, the committee discussed 21 agreements, protocols, executive programs and memorandums in areas including technical and vocational education, fisheries, broadcasting, youth and sports, education, environmental protection, health, judiciary and social affairs and labor. The two sides also signed an agreement on mutual cooperation between both countries' news agencies.
Bajammal emphasized the closeness of Yemeni-Syrian ties and the mutual history of both nations. “The good relations between the two brotherly countries are interpreted from jointly-implemented projects and true partnership in the economy, development and culture, which help expand the base of mutual interest for both nations,” he explained.
He noted that establishing good relations requires developing the methods and mechanisms of joint work and investment at both the government and private sector levels. Bajammal stressed putting into practice the results reached by the Yemeni-Syrian summit late last year in Aden and co-chaired by both nations' leaders.
The Yemeni prime minister called for establishing a multipurpose company in the area of sea transportation to include Yemen, Syria, Jordan and other countries in the Red Sea to develop economic cooperation and overcome any persistent difficulties in sea transportation. Additionally, he urged establishing banking transactions to assist in the process of mutual investments.
Syrian Prime Minister Etri expressed his hope for driving forward the process of mutual cooperation between Syria and Yemen and improving it in order to meet the demands of both states and their people.
Etri ascertained that Yemen has historic ties with Syria dating back several years. “The signed agreements are due to help foster investment projects in both states. The most prominent of the agreements and protocols concern trade cooperation, investment protection, industry, culture, health, agriculture and transportation,” he concluded.
Areas of health, industry, agriculture, transportation and energy topped the discussions' agenda.
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