DAMASCUS: A Saudi delegation led by an advisor from the Royal Court has met with Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, Al Arabiya reported on Monday.
The meeting was held at the People’s Palace in Damascus.
Earlier this week, al-Sharaa stated that Saudi Arabia and Syria look forward to a shared vision for Damascus in terms of cooperation and economic development.
“We admire the development in Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia’s plans and vision, and we aspire to achieve similar progress for Syria,” he told the Arabic Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.
“There are many opportunities for cooperation, especially in economic and developmental areas, where we can align our goals,” he added.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied groups launched a lightning offensive last month, seizing Damascus on December 8 and ousting longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.
Meanwhile, top delegations from Jordan and Qatar visited Damascus on Monday for talks with the Ahmed al-Sharaa.
A Jordanian Foreign Ministry statement said Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi “is currently holding extensive talks” with al-Sharaa, without giving further details.
Qatari Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammed al-Khulaifi also arrived in the Syrian capital, leading a high-level delegation.
In the past few days, al-Sharaa met with several foreign and Arab delegations in Damascus, including from the US.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, during an interview with the BBC, has said the country is exhausted by war and is not a threat to its neighbours or to the West. He also called for sanctions on Syria to be lifted.
