Damascus: Syria's Minister of Economy and Industry, Nidal Al Shaar, met on Monday with Germany's Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, Serap Guler, who is visiting Syria, to discuss ways to strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest. According to Qatar News Agency, the talks focused on encouraging investment and commercial partnerships and opening new avenues for economic cooperation between Syria and Germany. The two sides also exchanged views on opportunities for deeper economic engagement and mechanisms to enhance the role of the private sector in supporting bilateral relations.