Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan today reached Damascus on a two-day official visit to Syria. This is the first Ministerial-level visit from India to Syria since August 2016.
 
During the two-day visit, Mr Muraleedharan is likely to meet the Syrian leadership for wide-ranging discussions. He will also interact with a group of Syrian students who have studied or are proceeding to study in India under the Government's scholarship scheme. He is also expected to meet functionaries of the Syrian Orthodox Church.
 
India and Syria have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations based on deep-rooted people-to-people ties. India has maintained its Embassy in Syria all along the course of the conflict in Syria. A large number of students, businessmen, and patients travel to India. India has contributed immensely to the capacity building of the Syrian youth over the years through scholarship schemes and training courses under the flagship ITEC programme. This visit is expected to lend further momentum to the strong relationship between the two countries.