(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and his Mexican counterpart José Antonio Meade Kuribrena launched the “Lebanese-Mexican House” in Batroun during a celebration on Tuesday.
Bassil has been hosting the minister since his arrival in Beirut on Sunday, on a trip to “consolidate” bilateral relations between the two countries.
Bassil welcomed the minister, who is of British and Lebanese descent, and noted the presence of 7 ministers of Lebanese origin in the Mexican cabinet, according to Bassil.
“There are 500,000 people of Lebanese origin in Mexico, and they should know that they now have a house in Lebanon,” Bassil said during the ceremony. “They are invited to visit it and get to know their families and villages in Lebanon.”
Bassil stressed the importance of effectively activating the relations between Lebanon and Mexico for both tourism and trade. He noted that Lebanon exports to Mexico are valued at $400,000 annually, while Mexico exports are valued at $50 million.
Kuribrena echoed those remarks during meetings with Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri before visiting the port of Beirut, and laying a wreath at the monument of Lebanese emigrants.
The minister is accompanied by entrepreneurs and representatives of the Mexican community of Lebanese origin who will participate in the Lebanese Diaspora’s Energy Conference, scheduled from May 21 to 23 in Beirut.
Meade’s delegation also includes the general director of ProMexico, Francisco Gonzalez Diaz, and the coordinator of Ports and Merchant Marine of the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation, Guillermo Ruiz de Teresa.