BAGHDAD - The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that the delayed summit of Iraq, Egypt and Jordan is aimed at achieving economic partnerships that chart a new role for Iraq in the region.

The leaders of the three countries have been working to strengthen economic and trade cooperation over the past few years and have held three summits since 2019

Ahmed al-Sahaf, spokesman for the ministry, told the official Iraqiya channel that the economic partnership, also called the "New Orient" project, is about economic coordination and does not target any other party.

The project "is part of Iraq's foreign policy which aims to achieve multiple economic partnerships to enable Iraq to regain its regional and international role," al-Sahaf said.

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He pointed out that there will be a preparatory meeting at the level of foreign ministers to pave the way for the summit to be held by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah II.

Earlier in the day, al-Sahaf said in a brief statement that Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein would receive on Monday Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, ahead of the summit to be held by the three leaders later in Baghdad.

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On Friday, al-Kadhimi said in a statement that the trilateral summit, which was supposed to be held on March 27, was postponed indefinitely in solidarity with Egypt, which witnessed two trains collision that killed and wounded dozens of people.

The leaders of the three countries have been working to strengthen economic and trade cooperation over the past few years and have held three summits since 2019.