CAIRO, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Arab League (AL) Secretary General Amr Moussa on Saturday lauded the Lebanese-Syrian decision to establish their diplomatic ties, terming the move as an "important and positive step."

    Moussa made the remarks following his meeting with visiting Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora in the northern Egyptian coast city of Alexandria, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported.

    The two sides discussed the positive outcome of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman's recent visit to Syria, means of boosting Lebanese economy and maintaining Lebanon's security.

    Moussa said he is "upbeat about the progress being realized in Lebanon" that will help restore the country's stability.

    On Wednesday, Syria and Lebanon agreed to establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level, said a declaration following the summit meeting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his visiting Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman.

    In a statement issued Friday by the 22-member AL, Moussa described the decision of the two neighboring countries as "an important historical step."

    Syria and Lebanon have not established diplomatic relations since their independence from the French colonial rule in the 1940s.