Damascus, (SANA)- President Bashar al-Assad called for establishing economic projects of Arab and regional dimensions as to form a basis for achieving economic integration to serve the interests of Arabs and people of the region.

The remarks came during a meeting on Sunday with Saudi Minister of Finance Ibrahim al-Assaf. Both sides discussed the issues raised during the Syrian-Saudi Ministerial Committee meetings in Damascus.

President al-Assad highlighted the role of the Committee in promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation between Syria and Saudi Arabia.

The President and Minister al-Assaf called for continuing exchange of ideas to overcome obstacles and exploring new prospects for cooperation, as to reflect the deep fraternal and political relations between both countries.

The Saudi Minister stressed his country's keenness to consolidate economic cooperation with Syria and increase trade exchange and joint projects and investments in the interests of the Syrian and Saudi people.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Mohammad al-Hussein, Managing Director of the Saudi Fund for Development Yousef bin Ibrahim al-Bassam and the Syrian and Saudi ambassadors.

In a statement to SANA after the meeting, al-Assaf said that the meeting with President al-Assad was excellent, adding "President al-Assad stressed the importance of Syrian-Saudi economic cooperation in particular and Arab integrity in general."

He underlined "President al-Assad was following up the works of both committees whether at the level of business sector or the governmental level where we listened to his directives in this field and to what is related to the priorities of Syrian business sector."

H. Said/ al-Ibrahim/ I. al-Kazhali/ Mazen