Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has reached Damascus for talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. It is the first trip to Syria by an Iraqi prime minister since Bashar al-Assad was toppled.
The visit comes as the two neighbours look to tighten bilateral ties and widen economic and oil cooperation.
Oil exports and trade discussed in Damascus
According to the official Iraqi News Agency (INA), the leaders reviewed the export of Iraqi oil through the Baniyas line. They also discussed expanding trade volumes and joint work on agriculture, aimed at food and economic integration.
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Iraq has only recently started sending limited amounts of oil through Syria, after the US-led war on Iran broke out.
Pipeline revival and Chevron-linked agreements
Last July, the two countries signed deals to revive the Haditha-Baniyas pipeline for Iraqi oil. They also signed a memorandum of understanding with a consortium of three companies, most notably the American oil major Chevron, to carry out the project.
Zaidi, quoted by INA, said “The Iraqi and Syrian people are one people in two countries.” He called for wider partnership in economic and social affairs, stronger security cooperation, aligned positions on regional and international issues, and efforts toward peace and stability in the region.
For his part, Sharaa expressed “great appreciation for the visit of al-Zaidi and his accompanying delegation.” He stressed the depth of bilateral relations and Syria’s wish to reach the highest levels of cooperation with Iraq.
The two leaders had previously met last September in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. There they discussed political and security coordination and expanding economic and trade cooperation.
