ANKARA

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday in his first overseas trip as transitional leader of the war-torn country.

Sharaa assumed power as transitional president last week, more than a month after former regime leader Bashar al-Assad was toppled.

At the meeting held in Riyadh, the crown prince “extended his congratulations to President al-Sharaa on assuming the presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic, wishing him success in fulfilling the aspirations of the Syrian people,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

For his part, Sharaa “expressed his gratitude to the Crown Prince for his good wishes and for the Kingdom's supportive stances toward Syria and its people,” the SPA said.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed “the latest developments in Syria and explored ways to support its security and stability.”

They also reviewed “relations and opportunities for cooperation across various fields, along with regional developments and efforts to address them.”

According to the Syrian official news agency SANA, Sharaa expressed his gratitude to the crown prince for the "warm welcome and hospitality."

“Today, we held an extensive meeting during which we sensed and heard a genuine desire to support Syria in building its future, as well as a commitment to upholding the will of the Syrian people and the unity and integrity of its territory,” he said.

The two leaders “engaged in broad discussions and talks across all sectors, working to enhance communication and cooperation at all levels, particularly in humanitarian and economic fields.”

Discussions also focued on “comprehensive future plans in the fields of energy, technology, education, and health, aiming to establish a true partnership that ensures peace and stability across the region while improving the economic situation of the Syrian people,” Sharaa said.

Sharaa arrived in Riyadh early Sunday on the landmark visit to the oil-rich kingdom for talks with Saudi officials on bilateral relations and regional issues. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and other officials. Shaibani had also travelled to Riyadh last month.

The new administration in Syria aims to revive international ties following years of political isolation under the Assad regime. He has sought the removal of sanctions to recover from nearly 14 years of civil war.