Visiting British Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt on Thursday asserted his country's strong commitment to an independent and secure Lebanon, the British embassy in Beirut said in a statement.

"I look forward to meetings with His Excellency Prime Minister Najib Mikati and other Lebanese officials to relay the UK's strong commitment to an independent and secure Lebanon, including through full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701," the statement quoted Burt as saying.

Burt, who arrived Thursday in Beirut for a two-day visit, added that he expects to "discuss pressing foreign policy matters, including how to bring an end to the terrible violence in neighboring Syria and to ensure Lebanon to be protected from the effects of that violence."

According to the statement, the British minister, who last visited Lebanon in July 2010, also extended an invitation to the Lebanese people "to tune in to the greatest show on earth: the 2012 London Olympics."