Miqati Set to Head to DR Congo to Attend Francophonie Summit

Prime Minister Najib Miqati is set to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo this week to represent Lebanon at the Francophonie summit before heading to France on an official visit in November, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Thursday.

Miqati will head the Lebanese official delegation to the international grouping of French-speaking nations which opens its 14th summit on Friday.

Leaders from the 75-nation Francophonie will meet for three days in Kinshasa. Around 20 heads of state are expected to attend the summit.

According to the newspaper, contacts are ongoing between Lebanese and French authorities to set the date of the premier's visit to Paris.

Sources told the Central News Agency that Miqati's visit to France is aimed at “stressing the special political and economic ties between the two countries.”

They added that the premier's visit to Paris is aimed at fortifying the aid to the Lebanese army and enforce the cooperation with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

The Central News Agency also reported that Miqati is also expected to go on a tour to several Arab countries, including Iraq, in an attempt to boost the ties between the two countries and tackle the latest developments in the region.