Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al-Sharaa, on Wednesday to discuss Syria’s reconstruction, bilateral cooperation, and Moscow’s role in the country.
– This was Al-Sharaa’s second visit to the Russian capital in four months.
– Russia has remained engaged with the new Syrian leadership and has maintained its military presence at Khmeimim Airbase and the Tartus naval facility in Syria.
– During the meeting, Putin said diplomatic ties between Russia and Syria have always been friendly and thanked al-Sharaa for helping to further develop them.
– He added that trade volume between the two nations has grown by 4% since the previous meeting between the two presidents in October.
– “While this is perhaps not as ambitious as we might have wished, it’s a positive step nonetheless, and it is a trend we should keep going. We continue to work actively to develop our partnership across all areas,” he said.
– Moscow and Damascus plan to work together in a range of fields, including healthcare, construction, industry, and sports, according to Putin.
– Russian construction companies and businesses are ready to work jointly with their Syrian partners on the Middle Eastern nation’s reconstruction, he noted.
– The Russian president also welcomed Damascus’ efforts to restore Syria’s territorial integrity and congratulated al-Sharaa on reestablishing government control over the territories east of the Euphrates River.
– Al-Sharaa thanked Putin for Russia’s efforts to stabilize the situation in Syria and the Middle East, adding that Moscow plays a major role in the region.
– The new Syrian government, which has been struggling to revive the economy and rein in sectarian violence since taking over, has also sought to rebuild diplomatic relations with a range of foreign nations, including the US.
– In December, Al-Sharaa visited Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump, who said he was “very satisfied” with Syria’s new leadership.
https://www.rt.com/russia/631681-syrian-russian-president-visit-talks