BEIRUT/ANKARA — Lebanese Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny met Turkey’s ambassador to Beirut this week as Lebanon seeks to link its ports to an emerging regional rail network stretching through Syria toward Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Rasamny and Turkish Ambassador Murat Lutem discussed expanding cooperation in transport, public works and infrastructure during their meeting on Monday, according to the Lebanese transport ministry.

The meeting comes as the Lebanese government is pushing to join a Turkish-led railway network project aimed at connecting Turkey to Saudi Arabia through Syria and Jordan. 

Background: The project aims to revive and restore parts of the Ottoman-era Hejaz Railway, which linked Damascus to Medina, Saudi Arabia.