Historic meeting between President and Mayor of Canterbury Bankstown
Mayor Bilal El-Hayek has been formally received by the President of Lebanon in a historic first for the City of Canterbury Bankstown, marking a significant moment in the City’s international and cultural relations.
The meeting was held at the Presidential Palace in Baabda during Mayor El-Hayek’s visit to Lebanon following the recent lift on travel restrictions to the region.
It is the first time a sitting Mayor of Canterbury Bankstown has met with the Lebanese Head of State.
The meeting comes after Mayor El-Hayek wrote to President Joseph Aoun earlier this year to congratulate him on his election on 9 January 2025.
The Presidential Palace, located in the mountain town of Baabda, overlooks Lebanon’s capital city Beirut 13 kilometres away.
Mayor El-Hayek said President Aoun was interested in our City and the success stories of the Lebanese community.
“He extended his good wishes to the Australian Lebanese community and praised their generosity and their resilience,” Mayor El-Hayek said.
“He said this was evident during the Covid pandemic when locals relied on their family and friends for financial support.”
President Aoun also encouraged Australians to visit Lebanon – affirming the country’s safety and stability – and urged the diaspora not to forget their homeland and to reconnect with loved ones.
“It was clear the President was upbeat about the country’s future and its economic stability,” Mayor El-Hayek said.
During the meeting, Mayor El-Hayek extended an invitation for President Aoun to visit Canterbury-Bankstown.
Canterbury Bankstown is home to more than 55,000 residents of Lebanese descent – the largest Lebanese community in Australia.