Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikdad met on Sunday with Head of the Neighboring Countries Department in the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Uday Al-Khairallah and the accompanying delegation.

Ambassador al-Khairallah said that his visit to Syria affirms Iraq’s keenness to consolidate coordination with brotherly and friendly countries, foremost of which is Syria.

Al-Khairallah stressed the importance of Syria for Iraq, especially as it forms a vital area to meet the requirements of development and economic progress for the Iraqis.

For his part, Mikdad affirmed the need to improve relations between Syria and Iraq and upgrade them at political, culture, and economic levels, expressing Syria’s appreciation for Iraq for standing by it in the war against terrorism.

Mikdad hailed the continuous coordination between the Syrian Arab Army and the Iraqi army and the Popular Mobilization Forces in the fight against Daesh (ISIS) terrorists.

Re-opening the border crossing between the two countries will help in strengthening their economic relations and provide chances for economic and trade exchange with the aim of meeting the two brotherly peoples’ needs and interests, Mikdad indicated.

Earlier, the Iraqi delegation discussed with the Syrian side, headed by Ahmad Arnous, Adviser to Foreign and Expatriates Minister bilateral and cooperation relations between the two countries.