Damascus: Syria's newly appointed foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, announced on Monday that his inaugural official overseas visit will be to Saudi Arabia. This visit marks the beginning of what Syria hopes will be a renewed diplomatic relationship with the kingdom.

According to Anadolu Agency, al-Shaibani accepted an invitation extended by Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan. On his X account, al-Shaibani expressed honor at the opportunity to represent Syria on this pivotal visit, emphasizing the aim of establishing strategic relations with Saudi Arabia across various fields.

During a joint press conference with Abdullah Al-Yahya, his Kuwaiti counterpart, al-Shaibani revealed that the visit is scheduled for the first week of the new year. He characterized the trip as a goodwill gesture and a foundational step towards reinstating Syria's influence within the Arab world. Al-Shaibani intends to engage in dialogue with Saudi Arabia to understand its perspectives and to expedite reconstruction efforts in war-torn Syria.

Al-Shaibani's appointment as foreign minister on December 21 followed the ousting of Bashar al-Assad's regime. Assad, who governed Syria for nearly 25 years, sought refuge in Russia after anti-regime factions seized control of Damascus on December 8, bringing an end to the Baath Party's reign that began in 1963.