DAMASCUS, April 14. /TASS/. At a meeting with Russia’s delegation, Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis promised that Russian businesses will be given the utmost favorable conditions in Syria, Dmitry Sablin, the coordinator of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) group in charge of ties with Syria, said after Saturday’s talks with Khamis held behind closed doors.

"The prime minister said that maximum preferences will be granted to Russian companies in all fields of business," Sablin said quoting the Syrian prime minister as saying.

"We discussed the social and economic development of Russian and Syrian regions with the prime minister," the lawmaker continued. "[We] focused on problems emerging when business professionals mutually interact. They are linked to logistics and the banking sector. [We] discussed how to rebuild Syria on mutually beneficial conditions."

"Today, we saw Eastern Ghouta with our own eyes. There is a colossal amount of work and experience is required [here], and Russia has this sort of experience," he noted. "It might seem odd that members of the Russian delegation are discussing matters pertaining to social and economic development on the very day that missile strikes are being carried out by the US, the UK and France.".