Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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Damascus, SANA – Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi met on Monday head of the West Asia and North Africa department at the Indian External Affairs Ministry, Joint Secretary Sandeep Kumar.
During the meeting, Premier al-Halaqi affirmed the government’s desire to expand economic and industrial cooperation with friendly countries like India, calling on Indian businessmen and companies to carry out investment, development, and services projects in Syria and take part in the upcoming reconstruction stage, noting that there are significant cooperation prospects in the fields of food and consumer products, pharmaceuticals, and equipping factories, hospitals, and power station.
Al-Halaqi stressed the need for all countries of the world to cooperate with Syria to combat terrorism and reign in the states that provide financial, military, and logistic support to terrorism and harbor it.
For his part, Kumar asserted the Indian government’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Syria, helping alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people, and providing what they need to confront terrorism.
The two sides discussed means to boost cooperation and realize signed agreements, in addition to the prospects of signing new agreements and cooperating in the fields of electricity, pharmaceuticals, transport, agriculture, petroleum, gas, development and services projects, and industry.
They also discussed the possibility of establishing a phosphates factory in Syria, rehabilitating factories in power stations, and reviving the Syrian-Indian Center for Distinguished Students, in addition to expanding scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation and boosting the performance of the Syrian-Indian Joint Committee.
Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem also held a meeting with Joint Secretary Kumar.
Al-Moallem discussed with Kumar and the accompanying delegation bilateral relations and means to boost them in all fields, with the Minister briefing them on the methodical terrorism targeting Syria.
Al-Moallem stressed the need to unite regional and international efforts to preserve international peace and security and to respect the Security Council’s resolution on combating terrorism and drying up its sources.
For his part, Kumar said that India is opposed to internal interference in countries’ affairs, and that it believes that terrorism has become a concern for many states, which requires rallying international efforts to combat it.
He also affirmed India’s support for the efforts to reach a political solution in Syria which would alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people and lead to stability in Syria and the region.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikdad, the Minister’s Advisor Ahmad Arnous, and head of the Asia department at the Ministry Ayman Raad.
Earlier, Deputy Minister Mikdad met with Kumar and discussed with him the facets of Syrian-Indian cooperation, particularly in the fields of economy, culture, science, health, and reconstruction.
Mikdad voiced the Syrian government’s appreciation of India’s position which understands the nature of the criminal activities carried out by terrorists in Syria, stressing the need to enhance Syrian-Indian relations in all fields.
In turn, Kumar affirmed that India’s position towards Syria, which is based on supporting a political solution for the crisis, is firm, adding that the Indian government wants to boost coordination and cooperation with the Syrian government and follow up on the implementation of Indian projects in Syria.
Hazem Sabbagh
