Damascus, July 16 (SANA)Syrian Foreign MinisterAsaad Hassan al-Shaibanireceived a German delegation led byGéza Andreas von Geyr,Germany’s Minister of Stateat the Federal Foreign Office, on Thursday to discuss strengthening bilateral relations.

The two ministers also launched the inaugural session of theSyrian-German Joint Committee, establishing a new framework for cooperation in economic recovery, reconstruction, investment, energy, transport,civil aviation, transitional justice, missing persons and refugee issues.

Earlier, Qutaiba Qadish, Director of the International Cooperation Department at Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, and von Geyr signed a declaration formally establishing the joint committee during a ceremony at Tishreen Palace in Damascus.

The two sides also signed a bilateral air transport agreement. The document was signed by Sameh Arabi, Deputy Head of Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, and von Geyr.

The agreement establishes the legal and regulatory framework governing air services between Syria and Germany and follows a joint declaration of intent signed in Berlin on March 30, 2026.

The accord paves the way for the operational phase, including coordination between the two countries’ civil aviation authorities, designation of national carriers, allocation of traffic rights and flight frequencies, issuance of operating licenses, and completion of the technical and security requirements needed to launch direct flights between Syria and Germany.