Abd al-Mahdi, Saudi Commerce min. talk enhancing bilateral ties
Iraqi Prime Minister Adil
Abd al-Mahdi met the Saudi economic delegation, including Saudi Minister of
Commerce and Investment Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, where they reviewed ways
of enhancing and supporting bilateral relations between the two countries and a
number of issues of mutual interest.
Abd al-Mahdi welcomed the Saudi delegation, which included a large
number of ministers and heads of Saudi institutions and companies, stressing
the determination of the Iraqi government to establish the best relations
between the two peoples of the two brotherly countries.
He also pointed out to Iraq's keenness to expand its relations
with its Arab and regional neighbors, and adopt a policy that focuses on the
exploitation of the opportunities for broad cooperation in all fields.
For his part, Qasabi expressed happiness for visiting Iraq and launching
the Iraqi coordinating council in Baghdad, which embodies the serious desire to
develop the Iraqi-Saudi relations.
Abd al-Mahdi
said on Tuesday that he intended to visit Saudi Arabia, Turkey and some other
Gulf countries in the coming weeks to boost Iraq's ties with the regional
countries.
"During the next two weeks, we will make an official visit
to Saudi Arabia and discuss important issues," Abd al-Mahdi told a press
conference after a weekly cabinet meeting.
The prime minister said he will discuss the issues of trade
exchange, customs tariff and the development of relations between the two
countries.