The work of the 112th regular session of the Arab Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) kicked off on Thursday in Cairo at the ministerial level, with the participation of Syria.  Syria was represented by Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Mohammad Samer al-Khalil.  In his speech before the session, minister al-Khalil voiced appreciation for all the efforts made in preparation of working papers for the meetings of ECOSOC session, including the proposed topics to be included in the draft agenda of the 5th session of the Arab Development Summit to be held in Mauritania next November.  Al-Khalil pointed out that the proposed topic regarding updating the standards for presenting economic and social issues to the Council of the League of Arab States at the summit level is one of the important issues that would contribute to developing the work mechanism at the technical level and at the level of the goals desired to be achieved.  Al-Khalil noted that this matter must affect the productive sectors in the Arab countries on the one hand and the needs of their citizens on the other hand, along with the plans aimed at promoting investment between the Arab countries on complementary foundations.  The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said in his speech at the opening of the session that the ECOSOC was able, with its successive sessions over the past decades, to achieve solid Arab achievements in the process of joint Arab action.  He added that this Council, in accordance with the provisions of its bylaws, assumed the responsibility of managing all economic and social files for joint Arab action and supervising the agencies working within this framework. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: Syrian Arab News Agency