Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani held a series of high-level meetings in Beirut on Thursday, beginning with talks at the presidential palace in Baabda with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, as both sides signaled a reset in relations and pledged closer coordination across political and economic files.

During the meeting, President Aoun underscored what he described as Lebanon’s commitment to a stable and cooperative relationship with Damascus based on mutual respect and non-interference.

“Lebanon remains committed to establishing fraternal relations between the two countries based on cooperation, coordination, and non-interference in the internal affairs of either state,” Aoun said.

He added that stability in both countries was closely interconnected.

“We are as keen on Syria’s stability as Syria is on Lebanon’s stability,” he said, adding that he was “reassured by the level of coordination between the two countries, particularly in border control and in preventing the smuggling of people, weapons, and anything that could undermine the security of both states.”

Aoun also pointed to what he described as a shift in Syria’s approach toward Lebanon under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

“President al-Sharaa has confirmed to me on several occasions, in meetings and phone calls, that Syria’s role will not be like it was in the past,” he said. “A new page has been opened between the two countries—one in which Syria will not stand with one Lebanese party against another, but rather alongside all Lebanese.”

He welcomed the establishment of a joint higher committee between the two countries, saying it would help protect shared interests.

“We welcome the formation of the joint higher committee between Lebanon and Syria to safeguard the interests of both countries,” Aoun said.

For his part, al-Shaibani conveyed greetings from Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and extended an official invitation for Aoun to visit Damascus. He said his visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and expanding coordination, particularly in economic cooperation.

Al-Shaibani’s agenda included meetings with Lebanon’s three top officials, Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi, and several political figures. He later met Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, where he said discussions did not include Hezbollah.

“There was no meeting with Hezbollah today,” al-Shaibani said. “But if circumstances require it, we are open to that.”

He stressed that his discussions focused on bilateral relations and denied that Hezbollah had been raised during the talks.

“The discussion centered on ways to develop Lebanese-Syrian relations. The issue of Hezbollah was not raised in the meeting,” he said.

Later in the day, al-Shaibani met Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who said in a joint press conference that the talks focused on expanding practical cooperation between the two countries.

“The aim of the meeting is to strengthen cooperation between Lebanon and Syria in electricity interconnection, transport, trade exchange, facilitating the movement of goods and people, and developing economic relations,” Salam said.

He announced agreement on new institutional mechanisms to structure bilateral cooperation.

“We agreed to establish a Lebanese-Syrian business council,” Salam said. “We also signed an agreement to create a joint higher committee composed of relevant ministers, which will meet regularly to enhance cooperation between the two countries.”

Al-Shaibani said his visit reflected what he described as Damascus’s support for Lebanon and its people, adding that Syria was seeking a “healthy” relationship based on mutual respect.

He said the newly established committee would play a central role in strengthening ties and delivering tangible benefits for both countries.

“The Lebanese-Syrian higher committee will work to consolidate relations, strengthen partnerships, and achieve prosperity for both countries,” he said, adding that Lebanon’s government alone would determine the terms of any agreement with Israel.