Syrian- Russian financial talks

Syria's Minister of Finance Muhammad al-Hussein on Wednesday considered the agreement signed between Russia and Syria to settle the Syrian debts as an important step towards enhancing and activating bilateral relations, particularly in the field of investment and trade.

"President Bashar al-Assad's visit last month to Russia was very important, it gave a momentum to boosting financial, political and economic relations," Minister Hussein said during a meeting with Chairman of the Russian-Syrian Businessmen Council Pumbinasky and a number of Russian Businessmen.

Talks dealt with areas of future cooperation and the best means to activate bilateral relations, particularly regarding the banking sector.

Head of the Russian delegation, for his part, referred to the strong historical relations between both countries, stressing importance of making use of all available factors to activate joint investments and exchange expertise.

Meantime, Minister of Trade and Economy Amer Hosni Lutfi stressed on Wednesday the importance of the bilateral meetings between Syrian and Russian. "We aim at boosting levels of economic and trade activities, increasing mutual investments and enlarging the exchanged-trade between our countries," the Minister said at the opening of Syria-Russian Businessmen Council today.

Head of the Russian Trade and Industry Chamber Yevgeny Primakove underlined the necessity to deepen economic and trade relations between Syria and Russia by activating the mutual cooperation as well as common investments between them. "Many joint projects are on the way particularly in oil, gas, and railways," Primakove said, pointing out at the importance of developing Syrian-Russian businessmen relations.

Chairman of Syria's Chamber of Commerce Rateb al-Shallah assured that settling the debts between Syria and Russia was a an important step to open the way for new relation that aims at activating and developing economic and trade ties. "Syria is ready to offer Russia all facilities for every investment and project that Russia is intending to build in Syria," the Minister said.

For his part Head of the Russian-Syrian business Council expressed the Russian businessmen's wish to establish projects and investments in Syria and to find real investment opportunities that benefit both countries.