Lebanese Finance Minister Fuad Saniora said Thursday the visit to Baghdad by a high-ranking delegation that includes three other ministers was aimed at improving bilateral cooperation.
"This very important visit is aimed at developing and improving cooperation between the two countries in different fields," Saniora told reporters on his arrival in the Iraqi capital.
"We hope Lebanon can boost trade with Iraq under the oil-for-food program," he added.
In the Lebanese press Thursday, Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri said concretely that the aim was to import Iraqi oil at an "advantageous price" and in exchange for exporting certain products to Iraq.
The delegation also includes Economy Minister Bassel Fleihane and ministers of state Michel Pharaon and Beshara Merhej.
The group was received at Saddam International Airport by Iraqi Finance Minister Hekmat Ibrahim al-Azzawi and the ministers of oil, industry and transport.
The Lebanese plane, the fourth to land in Baghdad from Beirut since October, was also carrying a cargo of 10 tons of medicines and food for the Iraqi people – BAGHDAD (AFP)
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