AL-QIRBI IN FOREIGN ROUND SOON

SANA'A, May 06 (Saba) - Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi is to begin next Sunday a one-week round, which it takes him to Italy, China and Singapore.

The Foreign Minister told the Weekly state-run 26September that he would commence the round by visiting Rome in response to an invitation from the Italian Foreign Minister.

The visit aims to discuss bilateral relations in various fields in the light of widening the Italian development aid to Yemen in combating terrorism and piracy and in propping up the Yemeni coastguard, in addition to reviewing the role Italy would play in the Yemen's friend group.

Foreign Minister will meet during the visit with officials in the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to discuss enlarging the organization's aid to Yemen, as the needs of the Saada conflict-affected people raise.

On the other hand, al-Qirbi's visit to China, May 12 – 16, aims at taking part in the meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum to be held in Tianjin, China.

Al-Qirbi said the meeting would discuss China-Arab States economic and investment relations, forum building, practical cooperation and international and regional issues of common interest.

The meeting will discuss the Chinese attitude towards the Israeli-Arab conflict as well as the Chinese support to the Arab fair causes in the international events, al-Qirbi said, adding that he would hold talks with the Chinese counterpart over the bilateral cooperation in different areas.

Finally, al-Qirbi will head for Singapore on a two-day state visit in reply to an invitation from the Singaporean Foreign Minister.

The visit seeks to boost up the mutual relations and attract the Singaporean capitals to invest in Yemen.

AF/AF