NICOSIA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus and Lebanon on Wednesday signed a landmark agreement demarcating their maritime boundary, a move described by officials from both sides as "historic" and of major strategic importance, the Cyprus News Agency reported.

The agreement was finalized during Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides' visit to Beirut, where he met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Pending since 2007, the deal, based on the median line between the two countries, delineated their offshore maritime zones.

Christodoulides said the accord reflects the strength of bilateral relations and sends "a strong political message" that the two neighbors will continue to deepen cooperation in accordance with international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The two leaders also agreed to examine the feasibility of an electricity interconnector and discussed broader cooperation in energy, telecommunications, and tourism.

Progress on the maritime demarcation had been delayed for years due to Lebanon's internal political challenges and its maritime dispute with Israel, which was resolved in 2022, paving the way for completion of the Cyprus-Lebanon boundary agreement last year. Enditem