On the sidelines of his participation in the 33rd Assembly of the International Maritime Organization, the Minister of Public Works and Transport in the caretaker government, Ali Hamieh, held a meeting with the head of the Chinese delegation at the organization's meeting, the Vice Minister of Transport of the People's Republic of China, Zuo Yinfu. The meeting was attended by Lebanon's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Rami Mortada, and the Director General of Land and Maritime Transport, Dr. Ahmed Tamer.
The discussion focused on the relations between Lebanon and China, particularly the issues relevant to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, especially in the maritime transport and ports sector. The meeting in London with the Chinese delegation leader Zuo Yinfu was an opportunity to review how to enhance the growth of relations between Lebanon and China, given Lebanon's advantageous strategic geographical location for global transport corridors, particularly as it is the shortest route between the East and the West.
Hamieh thanked Zuo for "everything China has provided to Lebanon during all the circumstances it has faced, especially during the period following the crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Beirut port explosion," emphasizing "the Chinese positions that followed." He added that "Lebanon is fully prepared and ready to enhance cooperation with China in the ports and maritime transport sectors, as it boasts a strategic geographical location that is significant for global trade, especially Chinese trade," in addition to "its ports having technical specifications capable of accommodating large vessels."
He provided a detailed explanation of "the importance of Lebanon's geographical location concerning the Chinese transport initiative known as the Belt and Road Initiative (Silk Road)," confirming that "in light of China's interest in establishing transport corridors worldwide, Lebanon is among the countries that can be part of this project, especially as it lies at a juncture connecting the East and the West and is considered one of the shortest routes between them, offering economic and commercial advantages for both Lebanon and China."
For his part, Zuo expressed notable interest in the explanations provided by Hamieh in this regard, appreciating them and expressing his "readiness to communicate these proposals to the relevant authorities in China, to follow up later with Minister Hamieh in the coming period."
