Syrian President Discusses with Iraqi PM Ways to Develop Security, Economic, and Trade Cooperation

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa held talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on “strengthening relations between the two countries on the basis of mutual respect and shared understanding,” according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). The discussions took place during al-Sharaa’s reception of al-Zaidi at the People’s Palace in Damascus.

The talks also covered the development of economic and commercial cooperation, as well as opportunities for development and investment, along with the latest regional developments and their geopolitical repercussions, according to SANA.

In a statement, the Syrian presidency said that the two sides discussed “ways to enhance relations between the two brotherly countries, and to develop security, economic, and commercial cooperation, alongside discussing regional and international developments and a number of issues of common interest, in a manner that serves mutual interests and contributes to consolidating security and stability in the region.”

For his part, Iraqi government spokesperson Haider al-Abudi announced in a press statement yesterday that the visit aims to strengthen ties between the two countries in a manner that serves the interests of both peoples. He noted that al-Zaidi held bilateral talks with President al-Sharaa on the future of Iraqi-Syrian relations, regional developments, and geopolitical challenges, adding that economic and commercial cooperation takes priority in the discussions given both countries’ need for economic and commercial partnerships that transform neighborhood ties into mutual benefits and opportunities for development and investment.

Earlier, al-Sharaa said in an interview with Iraqi Al-Dijlah TV, broadcast the day before yesterday, that relations between the two countries are old and historic, noting that the destinies of the two nations are linked historically, currently, and in the future, and that they share water resources, as the Euphrates River flows through a large part of Syria. He added that Syria is a strategic corridor connecting the West to Iraq and onward to the Arabian Gulf, emphasizing that stability in Syria serves Iraq’s interests, just as stability in Iraq positively benefits Syria.