Al Shara holds talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on reviving Syria’s economy

Syrian leader visits Riyadh on first trip abroad in new role

Syria's new leader Ahmad Al Shara discussed ways to rebuild his country's war-damaged economy in a meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Sunday.

This was Mr Al Shara's first trip abroad since supporters declared the former rebel leader Syria's President last week.

The meeting was aimed at “preserving peace and security in the whole region and improving the economic reality for the Syrian people”, Mr Al Shara said in a statement afterwards.

“We discussed expanded plans in the fields of energy and technology and education and healthcare, to reach a real partnership,” he added. “We perceived a real desire to support Syria in building its future and … the unity and integrity of its territories.”

Official Saudi news agency SPA said the talks covered strengthening bilateral ties “in all fields” and efforts to stabilise the region.

Support from US ally Saudi Arabia is crucial for Mr Al Shara's quest to legitimise his new rule in the international arena, lift western sanctions on Syria − particularly those imposed by Washington − and attract investment to help the economy recover from the effects of civil war.

Footage on SPA showed Prince Mohammed receiving Mr Al Shara at a royal palace, with Saudi Arabia's flag and the new green, black and white Syrian flag behind them. A photo published earlier by the official Syrian news agency Sana showed Mr Al Shara on board a Saudi plane, travelling from Damascus to the kingdom.

The new Syrian government is seeking regional support and more aid to rebuild the country after almost 14 years of civil war.

Mr Al Shara is the head of Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, a group formerly linked to Al Qaeda and Al Nusra Front, which played the main role in the downfall of former president Bashar Al Assad on December 8.

Removing these punitive measures could help bring in funding for recovery from a conflict that broke out during Mr Al Assad's rule, although significant violence persists. Last month, Saudi Arabia called for the lifting of sanctions on Syria in a major diplomatic boost for the HTS government, at a meeting in Riyadh of western and Arab powers.

Since being declared President, Mr Al Shara has received letters of congratulations from President Sheikh Mohamed and Jordan's King Abdullah II. On Thursday, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim visited Damascus and discussed possibilities for reconstruction with Mr Al Shara, according to Syrian reports.

Syria's relations with Gulf and other Arab states have improved since Mr Al Shara took power, in contrast with the reliance on Iran under Mr Al Assad.

Mr Al Shara last week said he would impose the power of the state on the whole of country, as the central authorities deal with challenges in the east and west stemming from the civil war.

The power of Mr Al Shara, who was until December ruler of a small fief in northern Syria, is being challenged on two fronts in outlying areas of the country. Since the civil war began in late 2011, Kurdish militias have carved out large territories in the east, while core Assad regime loyalists have entrenched themselves in the western Alawite mountains overlooking the coast.