Damascus: Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny, heading a Lebanese delegation, paid an official visit to the Syrian Arab Republic for talks aimed at strengthening Lebanese-Syrian cooperation in the transport sector, particularly road and rail transport, and improving connectivity between the two countries to facilitate passenger and freight movement, stimulate trade and enhance regional logistics integration.
According to National news agency - Lebanon, upon arriving at the Syrian Ministry of Transport, Rasamny and the Lebanese delegation were received by Syrian Transport Minister Dr. Yarub Badr, with an official reception followed by an expanded ministerial meeting chaired by the two ministers. The talks focused on reactivating rail connectivity between Lebanon and Syria, developing land border crossings, facilitating transport and trade flows, and prospects for building an interconnected transport network linking Lebanon with countries across the region.
The Lebanese delegation included Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's adviser Satih Arnaout; Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri's adviser Dr. Samer Haddara; Railway and Public Transport Authority Chairman and Director General Ziad Chaya; Tripoli Port Director Dr. Ahmad Tamer; technical consultant for the Tripoli-Abboudieh railway project Rami Khoury; and Public Works and Transport Minister adviser Dureid Abou Said.
During the meeting, Rasamny stressed the importance of moving transport cooperation onto a practical track based on shared interests, while expanding Lebanon's logistics options and strengthening its access to regional markets. He said efforts were focused on reactivating and developing rail connectivity between Lebanon and Syria, particularly from the Port of Tripoli through Abboudieh to the Syrian railway network and onward to countries across the region.
Rasamny noted that the vision extended beyond bilateral connectivity to a wider regional corridor linking Lebanon, through the Syrian network, to Iraq, Jordan, the Gulf countries and Trkiye, while leveraging Lebanon's location and its Eastern Mediterranean ports in support of regional trade. The objective, Rasamny said, was to support economic growth, boost exports and imports, reduce transport costs and create new opportunities for the Lebanese economy.
Badr, for his part, stressed the importance of reactivating rail connectivity between Syria and Lebanon, noting that the link was not a new project but was rooted in a historical reality in which the Syrian and Lebanese railway networks had once been interconnected. He emphasized the importance of reviving that connection within a broader vision for regional transport networks.
The two sides agreed to establish a joint Lebanese-Syrian technical team of specialists that will begin following up on the issues discussed within the coming weeks. The team will examine the technical options and routes required to reconnect the Lebanese and Syrian railway networks and update previous studies in line with current conditions, projected transport demand and implementation requirements.
The meeting also addressed the proposed railway link between the Port of Tripoli and the Syrian border through Abboudieh and onward to Homs, viewed as one of the key projects on which efforts to connect the port to the regional railway network could be built. Discussions also covered the condition of land border crossings and ways to develop them and facilitate traffic.
Following the meeting, Rasamny and Badr held a joint press conference to outline the main issues discussed and the outcomes reached, particularly the agreement to launch joint technical follow-up on the railway file and translate the issues discussed into actionable implementation steps. Rasamny said Lebanon sought to capitalize on its geographical position, ports and regional transport networks to establish more efficient routes toward Arab markets.
At the conclusion of the official program, Rasamny and the Lebanese delegation, accompanied by their Syrian counterparts, visited the historic Hejaz Railway Station in Damascus. The delegation toured the station and was briefed on its historical and architectural significance and its connection to the history of railways and transport across the region.