BEIRUT - Union of Lebanon's Tripoli Municipalities signed an agreement with China's Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce (SRCIC) on Saturday to join the SRCIC for active role in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Head of Union of Tripoli's Municipalities Ahmad Qamareddine and Chairman of the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce (SRCIC) Lu Jianzhong signed the agreement.

The agreement signing was also attended by Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian and other officials.

Kassar hailed the Union of Tripoli's municipalities for joining the SRCICI, pointing to the "special importance of Tripoli and its huge potentials not only for Lebanon but for the whole region which enables it to enhance trade with China."

He added "we will not spare any effort in boosting Tripoli's standing and it openness on Chinese markets and such an alliance will prepare it to become a special hub for cooperation with China within the Belt and Road initiative."

Kassar pointed to the strategic location of Tripoli and its seaport on the Mediterranean and it human resources and infrastructure including the airport and railroads and logistic services it provides.

He stressed "I am fully prepared to put my historic and long relations with China in the service of boosting the mutual benefits between Lebanon and China."

For his part, Qamareddine hailed Qassar's efforts in promoting Tripoli to become "an important economic location on the SRCIC map and in boosting the city to become an economical capital of Lebanon and a main hub for the reconstruction of Syria."