Syrian president, Saudi crown prince discuss bilateral cooperation, regional developments

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed strengthening cooperation and regional and international developments during a meeting Wednesday in Riyadh, according to the Syrian presidency.

The meeting was held at Al-Yamamah Palace, attended by ministers and senior officials from both countries, the statement read.

The talks addressed “bilateral relations and ways to develop them and strengthen cooperation between the two brotherly countries in various fields,” it added.

During the visit, Syria’s Finance Ministry signed six concessional loan agreements worth more than $403 million with the Saudi Fund for Development, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

The agreements cover electricity, water, healthcare, emergency services, housing reconstruction and digital transformation of government financial services.

Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh and Saudi Fund for Development CEO Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad signed the agreements in the presence of the Saudi crown prince.

Separately, Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced that the two countries had signed a defense cooperation agreement during the visit.

In a statement, Abu Qasra said he accompanied Sharaa to meetings with the Saudi crown prince and Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, during which several agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed.

Sharaa arrived in Riyadh on an official visit to the kingdom on Wednesday, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

He was received at King Khalid International Airport by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of the Riyadh Region and other officials.

The delegation includes the ministers of foreign affairs and expatriates, defense, finance and industry, as well as the head of the General Intelligence Directorate, said the report.

The visit follows Sharaa’s trip to Riyadh on 6^th October, when he met the crown prince to discuss relations and regional developments.

During that visit, the Syrian presidency’s media directorate said the talks covered strategic plans and upcoming stages of Syria’s reconstruction, including rebuilding damaged infrastructure and vital facilities.

Sharaa also invited the crown prince to visit Syria.

On the eve of the latest visit, Syrian Minister of Industry and Internal Trade and Consumer Protection Basel Abdul Hannan met Saudi Ambassador to Damascus Ghazi bin Rafea al-Anzi to discuss a draft memorandum of understanding on industrial cooperation.

The proposed memorandum covers developing industrial cities and zones, improving production efficiency and product quality, and exchanging expertise in industrial financing and supporting projects, the report added.