Economic ties indispensable FM tells business forum in Beirut

Cyprus Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides told a business forum in Beirut on Wednesday that strong economic ties are an indispensable part to strong political ties.

Christodoulides is in Beirut for the first trilateral meeting at Foreign Minister level between Cyprus, Greece and Lebanon.

"Addressing the forum Christodoulides noted that strong economic ties are an indispensable part of a strong political relationship," a foreign ministry press release says.

He also noted that organising the forum is contributing to the efforts by the governments of Cyprus, Greece and Lebanon to further expand and deepen relations in a series of areas, to the benefit of the three countries peoples and the Eastern Mediterranean region in general.

Referring to the trilateral meeting he is set to have with his counterparts from Greece and Lebanon, he said it constitutes a concrete proof of the three governments commitment in that direction.

The Cypriot Foreign Minister expressed his satisfaction that a large mission of Cypriot businessmen is accompanying him in Lebanon, adding that they come from a wide variety of economic sectors, including, legal, financial and business services companies, real estate, development, hospitality and education, the press release says.

Christodoulides also said that the Cypriot economy has registered one of the highest growth rates in the EU and referred to its comparative advantages as an international business centre.