France ready to deepen economic cooperation with Syria, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron said France is ready to deepen economic cooperation with Syria and strengthen bilateral ties across several key sectors.

Speaking during a Syrian-French roundtable at the People's Palace in Damascus, Macron said joint economic committees would be expanded in partnership with Gulf countries to support Syria's reconstruction, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

He added that France is ready to become a partner to Syria in areas including energy and banking.

Syria's transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa highlighted the country's strategic location as a link between the Mediterranean, the Gulf and Iraq.

Referring to the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz, al-Sharaa said the world has come to recognize the importance of secure and stable trade corridors. He said Syria's geographic position has regained its vital role as an indispensable crossroads in global transport and trade networks.