Syrian foreign minister visits Iraq

BAGHDAD, March 25 (UPI) -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem arrived in Baghdad Wednesday for two days of talks officials said were aimed at boosting bilateral relations.

The Syrian delegation was to meet with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the Kuwaiti news service KUNA reported. Iraqi government officials said previously they were interested in exploring cooperative ventures with Syria, especially in transportation and energy.

Muallem first visited Baghdad in 2006, when he and Iraqi leaders signed several agreements to increase economic ties between the two countries, KUNA said.

After his visit to Baghdad, the Syrian foreign minister is to travel to Doha, Qatar, for a ministerial meeting Sunday that precedes the Arab summit.