Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Saturday appealed to the international community to help negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza.

The prime minister made the remarks at a social and economic forum ahead of the first Arab Economic, Development and Social Summit due to be held here on January 19-20.

The Palestinians should be given the right to form an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, Sheikh Nasser said.

He, meanwhile, noted the upcoming summit would focus on key issues on the current economic challenges in the Arab region, triggered by a global recession, stressing the importance of encouraging private sector to enhance the economies of Arab countries.

According to the Kuwaiti premier, greater cooperation, capacity building, development and expansion of trade and investments between Arabs would be high on the summit's agenda, apart from unemployment, youth issues, drugs and immigration.

Arab League General Secretary Amr Moussa, for his part, said the Arab countries are facing problems in various fields currently, referring to the Israeli aggression on Gaza and the global economic recession.

Arab countries must also consider social and economic options to liberate Palestinian territories from its current occupation, Moussa said.

The AL chief underlined the importance of education "in bringing about a change in the Arab societies and enable the youth to compete at international levels."

A strong educational system is a requirement for economic development, he concluded.

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2009)