Sushma Swaraj meets Syrian Deputy PM for bilateral talks

Syria’s Walid Al Moualem is in New Delhi on a four-day official visit.

New Delhi:

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday met Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Walid Al Moualem in the national capital for bilateral talks of mutual interest.

-"Emphasizing engagement. EAM @SushmaSwaraj meets Syrian Dy PM & FM, Walid Al Moualem for bilateral discussions.-" Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Moualem arrived here on Monday on a four-day official visit and was accompanied by a high level delegation.

Emphasizing engagement. EAM @SushmaSwaraj meets Syrian Dy PM & FM, Walid Al Moualem for bilateral discussions pic.twitter.com/QcDgz5NLDj

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) January 12, 2016

The visit assumes significance in view of fresh initiatives taken by the United Nations to bring peace in war-torn Syria, where more than 3 lakh people have been killed in the past four years and seven million have fled to other countries.

Syrian President al-Assad had visited India in June 2008 while then President Prathibha Patil had visited Syria in November 2010.