The most senior diplomat in Syria's new leadership says he will make official visits to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan this week, having just visited Saudi Arabia on his first trip in office.
The new government is keen to get investment from the wealthy Gulf states to help rebuild the country's infrastructure and boost an economy devastated by more than a decade of war.
"This week I will represent my country, Syria, on an official visit to our brothers in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan," its foreign minister, Assad al-Shaybani, said in a statement on X.
"We look forward to these visits contributing to supporting stability, security, economic recovery and building distinguished partnerships," he added.
Earlier this week, Shaybani led a high-level delegation to Riyadh that included the defense minister and the new government's intelligence chief.
It was the first foreign visit by Syria's new Islamist rulers since they toppled President Bashar al-Assad last month.
Last month, a Saudi delegation met Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Shara in Damascus, a source close to the Saudi government told AFP at the time.
Shara heads the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which spearheaded the rebel offensive that led to Assad's ouster on December 8.
Last week, in an interview with Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television, Shara said Saudi Arabia "will certainly have a big role in Syria's future," pointing to "a big investment opportunity for all neighboring countries." | BGNES
