Prime Minister Najib Mikati chaired a financial meeting this morning at the Grand Serail, attended by Finance Minister Youssef Khalil, Acting Governor of the Central Bank Wassim Mansouri, Director General of Finance George Maarawi, and former Minister and advisor to the Prime Minister Nicolas Nahas. The discussion focused on coordination between the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank to study methods for maintaining monetary balance in the markets, which positively affects the exchange rate.
#### Meeting with the Chinese Ambassador
Mikati met, in the presence of Minister of Social Affairs Hector Hijar, with the Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon, Qian Minjian, and Chairman of the Council for Development and Reconstruction Nabil Al-Jisr. Ambassador Qian announced after the meeting: "I had the honor today to meet with the Prime Minister and conveyed the congratulations of the Chinese Prime Minister on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Lebanon's independence. I informed the Prime Minister that the Chinese government has decided to provide one million US dollars in cash as urgent aid for Lebanese displaced persons affected by clashes at the Lebanese border."
#### Comments from Hijar
Hijar spoke, stating: "Today, I visited Prime Minister Mikati alongside His Excellency the Chinese Ambassador, and the purpose of the visit was to inform him about China's support for the displaced persons in the south, following communications we had with Ambassador Qian." He added: "We are working in the ministry like a beehive, holding continuous meetings for over a month and meeting with ambassadors of various countries to encourage their commitment and assistance, and to explain the difficult situation in the south. China responded quickly and is the first country to provide humanitarian aid to support humanitarian issues for the displaced in the south. We will submit all necessary documents within the coming hours to officially accept this grant, which will be transferred to the Ministry of Social Affairs' account, and we will announce the date of receiving the grant and explain to citizens how support will be provided to Lebanese displaced persons."
#### Meeting with the Egyptian Ambassador
The Prime Minister received the new Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, in a courtesy visit to mark his recent assumption of office. The meeting was attended by the Prime Minister's diplomatic advisor, Ambassador Boutros Asaker.
#### Meeting with Skaf
Prime Minister Mikati received Deputy Ghassan Skaf, who stated after the meeting: "I met with Prime Minister Mikati, and we discussed matters concerning the postponement of the army commander’s dismissal. We hope that what is happening in Gaza or what could happen in southern Lebanon, in terms of possible shifts in the rules of engagement, will motivate Lebanese citizens to rise above trivialities and internal divisions. We hope to reach the election of a new President of the Republic, form a new government, and appoint a new army commander, thus overcoming the current division regarding the postponement of the army commander’s dismissal or the appointment of a new one, especially as the military institution is currently facing a critical situation that could lead to instability in the country. We must keep the army leadership away from the bitterness of its vacancy, as the situation in Lebanon is serious."
He added: "The Israeli buildup in the south along the Lebanese-Israeli border is very concerning, as it seems Israel is preparing for what follows Gaza. This buildup represents a serious reality that could herald an explosion in the situation in Lebanon, planned by Israel to protect northern settlements that are now a source of embarrassment for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who aims to safeguard these settlements in light of the events in the Gaza envelope. Therefore, we must organize our internal affairs to preempt any possible field or political surprises."
#### Meeting with the Private Sector Network
The Prime Minister received a delegation from the "Lebanese Private Sector Network," led by Rima Freiji, who announced after the meeting: "We met today as the Lebanese Private Sector Network with Prime Minister Mikati and discussed several matters. We focused on our activities over the past two and a half years, and we touched on Lebanon's military neutrality regarding the situation in Gaza and Israel, as the private sector can no longer bear the strain and lacks resources to rebuild Lebanon. We finally addressed the 2024 budget and hope that Prime Minister Mikati will consider our opinions and observations."
