
Fifth Arab Economic, Social Summit begins
BAGHDAD, May 17 (KUNA) -- The fifth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit kicked off in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday, under Iraq's chairmanship.
The session is beginning with an inaugural statement by Lebanon, as chair of the previous session, to be followed by statement by Iraq, chairman of the current four-year term. Then the Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Abulgheit will speak, to be followed by statements by the participating delegations.
After the speeches, the session doors would be closed and the delegation would adopt agenda of the summit fifth edition before approving resolutions.
The summiteers are scheduled to discuss 33 topics including a Mauritanian initiative on "the blue economy," one by Abulgheit on artificial intelligence, the Arab strategy for food security until 2035, a project to shelter displaced families in the Palestinian territories and resisting schemes to drive the Palestinians out of their land.
The agenda includes issues namely investment in the health human resources (submitted by Palestine), Egypt's experience to treat hepatitis, an executive plan for the regional program for the Arab woman empowerment, an executive plan for the Arab strategy for the youth, peace and security, another one for the Arab strategy for water security and preparation for the second international summit for social develolpment.
The economic summit tackles a number of initiatives and proposals presented by Iraq for boosting the joint Arab action and forming the council of the Arab ministers of commerce and economic reforms.
This summit at the social and economic levels coincides for the first time with the broad Arab summit. A decision in this regard had been taken during the Algiers summit, November 2022. (end) ahh.rk
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