President Confirms Iraq's Keenness To Strengthen Cooperation With Saudi Arabia

BAGHDAD (NINA) - President Barham Saleh stressed that Iraq is keen to enhance the prospects of economic and trade cooperation with Saudi Arabia for the benefit of the two brotherly peoples. Saleh, during his meeting at al-Salam Palace in Baghdad on Thursday with Saudi Minister of Trade and Investment Majid al-Qasabi and the accompanying delegation, according to a presidential statement, said that "Iraq seeks to create a system of common economic interests with the Kingdom and the countries of the region in general," stressing that "Baghdad looks to be a platform for the convergence of interests Brothers and friends, in order to achieve prosperity and progress for the peoples of the region. He added that Iraq seeks to bring the countries of the region closer together to achieve stability and avoid conflicts and, praising the Kingdom's keenness to open up to Iraq and its serious efforts to strengthen ties between the two brotherly peoples. For his part, al-Qasabi expressed his country's desire to expand the horizons of economic cooperation and facilitate the process of trade exchange through activating the border posts and strengthening the partnership between the two countries. During the meeting, which was attended by Commerce Minister Mohammad Hashim Al-Ani and a number of officials, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and prospects for their development to serve the interests of the two brotherly countries./ End