Al-Assad confers with the Mayor of London

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received on Sunday at Mayor of London city Gavyn Farr Arthur, Governor of London City Carol Blackshaw and an accompanying delegation.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the bilateral relations between the two countries and the importance of these relations in the economic, social and cultural developments.

Talks also dealt with the process of management reform, developing the sector of banking and training personnel.

Arthur had said: "President Assad has made some important changes to the business environment and both I and the delegation with me intend to offer further help during this visit and beyond...Syria has a key role to play in a region which is changing considerably and I know the City's business community is keen to develop even closer links...The Syrian Arab Republic has many natural advantages, not the least of which is a beautiful landscape and a well-deserved reputation for hospitality. Economic reforms will help bring prosperity, too, and this will benefit Syria and the whole region."

The two sides exchanged views concerning the methodology of development and modernization between Syria and Britain and the possibility of establishing banking cooperation between the two countries.