Work of joint Syrian-Iraqi committee starts in Baghdad

The work of the 10th  session of the joint Syrian-Iraqi committee began today in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, to discuss ways to develop cooperation between the two countries in various fields. Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Dr. Muhammad Samer Al-Khalil chaired the Syrian side, while Iraqi Minister of Trade, Dr. Alaa Al-Jbouri chaired the Iraqi side.

At the beginning of the meetings,  Al-Jbouri stressed that the historical, geographical, cultural and social ties between the two countries play a central role in enhancing joint cooperation, indicating that his country’s government aspires to make the committee’s work a turning point in the level of bilateral relations in various fields, especially economic, commercial, cultural and scientific fields.

Al-Jbouri shed light on the mutual understanding between the two sides and on  consultation and coordination in many issues to serve the interests of both countries.

For his part, Al-Khalil stressed the importance of these meetings in consolidating bilateral relations, developing bilateral economic, commercial, artistic, cultural and scientific cooperation, as well as signing new agreements.

Al-Khalil said in a statement to SANA correspondent in Baghdad that “the Syrian government attached great attention to cooperation with Iraq,” noting that this meeting aims at enhancing communication and cooperation between the two countries in various fields and restoring it to the level that existed in the pre-crisis period. He highlighted the two sides’ will and desire to enhance mutual cooperation between the two countries.

In a similar statement, the Syrian ambassador to Iraq, Sattam Jadaan Al-Dandah, indicated that the committee’s meeting agenda includes discussing the achievements realized  in the past period and signing several memoranda of understanding and protocols in the fields of public works, housing, higher education, education, health, culture, media, sports and tourism.

Al-Khalil arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday evening at the head of an official delegation to participate in the meetings of the Syrian-Iraqi Joint Committee.

Inas Abdulkareem