Saudi’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Syria’s Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad held discussions on Syria’s unity, security, stability and territorial integrity.
The ministers welcomed the start of procedures for resuming consular services and flights between the two countries, according to the statement.
The two sides also agreed on the importance of resolving Syria’s humanitarian challenges and creating a suitable environment for aid to reach all regions of the country.
Among the issues discussed was finding ways to ensure the return of external and internal refugees to their homes.
The ministers also stressed the importance of enhancing Syria’s security, and introducing measures to tackle terrorism, drug smuggling and trafficking.
National reconciliation in Syria remained a key outcome of all efforts now being undertaken, the ministers stated.
Mekdad thanked Saudi Arabia for its assistance to resolve the crisis in Syria, and for the aid sent to the country after the recent earthquakes.
As part of its relief efforts in northern Syria and southern Turkiye in February, the Kingdom sent 16 aircraft with more than 85 tons of aid, including 1,000 tents, 13,329 articles of clothing, 3,600 blankets and 3,600 mattresses.
The Kingdom’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji on Wednesday welcomed Mekdad at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah.
Qatar and Bahrain will resume their diplomatic ties, both Bahrain news agency (BNA) and the Qatari foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
The move comes over two years after an Arab boycott of Qatar was lifted.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt in January 2021 ended a 3-1/2-year embargo of Qatar but all but Bahrain restored travel and trade links in 2021.
On Wednesday, the Bahraini-Qatari Follow-up Committee held its second meeting at the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat in the Saudi capital where the decision was made, the two countries said in separate statements.
In January, Bahrain’s crown prince spoke with Qatar’s emir by telephone, in a sign the two Gulf states were moving toward repairing relations.