Akbar meets Palestinian leader

Ahead of the India-Palestine Joint Commission meeting, Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar on Monday met Saeb Erkat, Secretary General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

"Expanding outreach in West Asia. MoS @mjakbar meets Dr.Saeb Erkat, Secy General of Executive Committee of Palestine Liberation Organisation," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Akbar reached Palestine on Monday to co-chair the First Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) of India and Palestine to be held on November 8-9.

He was received by Governor of Jericho Majed Fityani.

At the JCM, the Palestinian side will be co-chaired by Palestinian Foreign Minister of State Riad al-Maliki.

In a bid to give further impetus to the bilateral relationship, it was agreed to establish this JCM during External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Palestine in January this year.

According to the External Affairs Ministry, the JCM will cover a range of issues that include cooperation in economy, energy, tourism, agriculture, water and environment, education, health, information technology, sports, culture, and media.

Akbar will also be visiting Amman, Jordan, on November 10 for bilateral talks with his counterpart and other dignitaries.

--IANS

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