Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi waves to crowds of businessmen in Damascus, Syria, May 4, 2023.
Ebrahim Raisi said on Friday that his two-day visit to Syria was a "turning point" in improving bilateral political, economic, trade and security ties. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
TEHRAN, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Friday that his two-day visit to Syria was a "turning point" in improving bilateral political, economic, trade and security ties.
Raisi told reporters upon arriving here from Syria that the trip was of great importance for both sides and the region after 12 years of resistance by the Syrian people and government against enemies' conspiracies and seditious acts, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency.
He noted that Iran appreciates Syria's resistance against the "tough attacks," and Iran's support in the process made Syria and the region believe that Iran is a "strong pillar" they can trust and rely on.
The two sides are capable of enhancing cooperation regarding economic and trade relations, said the Iranian president, noting that they have signed 15 documents on cooperation in the fields of producing and distributing energy, establishing joint banks and insurance companies, reducing trade tariffs, enhancing transit among Iran, Iraq and Syria and reviving Syria's agricultural, industrial and energy sectors.
Raisi, who is the first Iranian president to visit Syria after the outbreak of the Syrian war in 2011, arrived in Damascus on Wednesday for extensive political and economic talks with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, with a high-level political and economic delegation. ■
