BEIRUT, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Syrian foreign chief Asaad al-Shaibani said Thursday that Syria has no intention of militarily intervening in Lebanon, stressing that Syrian authorities seek to build relations based on mutual respect and support for Lebanon's stability.
"The Syrian delegation wished to clarify the confusion surrounding reports of possible Syrian military intervention in Lebanon," al-Shaibani said during talks with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda. "Syria has no intention of taking such a step."
He stated that Syrian authorities support Lebanon's decisions, are committed to strengthening bilateral ties, and emphasize that Lebanon's stability aligns with Syria's interests.
Syria's leadership aims to end past mutual interference, enhance cooperation with all Lebanese parties, and strengthen bilateral ties across all sectors, the official added.
The official also proposed building a Lebanese-Syrian economic partnership with Gulf countries open to such cooperation, and highlighted the role of a newly established joint committee in advancing economic, energy, and other sectoral cooperation.
According to a statement issued by the Lebanese presidency, Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to building "brotherly relations with Syria based on cooperation, coordination, and non-interference in the internal affairs of both countries."
He welcomed the joint higher committee and praised Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa's recent remarks that Syria's role in Lebanon "will not be as it was in the past."
Later on Thursday, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and al-Shaibani announced the establishment of the joint committee, with Salam noting that discussions covered electricity interconnection, transport, trade, and border crossing facilitation, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Al-Shaibani said his visit reflected Syria's "goodwill and a determination to overcome the difficult legacy" in bilateral relations, according to NNA.
On the Lebanon-Israel framework agreement, he said that Syria rejects Israeli attacks on Lebanon and the displacement of the Lebanese people, calling the agreement "a Lebanese matter" and voicing support for "any political process that serves Lebanon's interests and stability," NNA added.
Al-Shaibani also met Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, with NNA reporting that the issue of Hezbollah "was not raised" during the talks.
Aoun also welcomed ongoing security coordination, particularly efforts to secure the shared border and combat smuggling of weapons, drugs, and people in both directions.
The Lebanese president reiterated Lebanon's call for Israel's withdrawal from both Lebanese and Syrian territories, saying that regional stability depends on ending the occupation, and expressed hope for stronger Arab economic integration in the future. ■
