DAMASCUS (IRNA) -- Syrian President Bashar Assad said on Wednesday that the increase in bilateral exchanges of views between Iranian and Syrian officials will help foil enemies’ plots to sow discord between the two countries.

Making the remark in a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Syria Mohammad-Hossein Akhtari, the Syrian president noted that certain countries have tried to mar Tehran-Damascus friendly relations.
Describing bilateral ties as stable, he called for upgrading of economic cooperation to the level of their political relations.
Akhtari whose diplomatic mission to Syria has ended, expressed Iran’s readiness to expand mutual economic ties in various fields.
The Iranian ambassador further commented on an economic exhibition to be held in Damascus in the near future. The Iran-Syria Friendship Association will organize the solo exhibition.
The exhibition is to be held from January 24 to February 1, and more than 100 Iranian companies have so far expressed readiness to take part in the event.