Source, headline changed, details added (first version was published at 00:50)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani held on Saturday a session of talks in which they discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries, SANA news agency reported.
Presidents al-Assad and Talabani expressed satisfaction over the growing development of these relations.
Talabani voiced Iraq's desire to build strategic relations in the interests of the two brotherly peoples and the countries of the region, their security and stability, stressing his country's readiness for developing relations with Syria at all levels.
The talks also dealt with activating the performance of the Joint Higher Committee, eliminating all obstacles hindering reciprocal investments and expanding economic cooperation.
They also underlined the importance of speeding up the implementation of the agreements signed during Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's visit to Syria in October, 2010, and the recent visit of Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri in January to Iraq.
Presidents al-Assad and Talabani also discussed the situation in Iraq and the progress it made through the current political process in the country, stressing the importance of bolstering this process due to its impact on the security and stability of Iraq and the neighbouring countries.
President al-Assad reiterated Syria's support for holding the upcoming Arab Summit in Iraq and the return of Iraq's role on the Arab arena as a main partner in making the region's future.
The talks also dealt with a number of Arab and regional issues, particularly the situation in Egypt, with Presidents al-Assad and Talabani voicing their full confidence in the ability of the Egyptian people to improve Egypt's status and restore its natural Arab and international role.
Syria and Iraq resumed diplomatic relations in November, 2006 after 26 years of rupture.