Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met Syria's foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani in Moscow on Thursday, the first visit by a top official from Syria's new government following the toppling of longtime Russian ally Bashar al-Assad in December.
Lavrov said Moscow hoped that Syria's new President Ahmed al-Sharaa would attend a summit between Russia and Arab League member states in Moscow in October, reported Reuters.
"Of course, we hope that President al-Sharaa will be able to take part in the first Russia-Arab League summit, which is scheduled for October 15," Lavrov said.
Sharaa led opposition factions into Damascus in December and installed a new government. Assad fled the capital and was granted asylum in Russia.
Moscow has since attempted to preserve ties with Syria's new authorities, including offering Damascus diplomatic support over Israeli strikes on Syrian territory.
At a joint news conference, Shibani said his trip to Moscow was intended "to start a necessary discussion ... based on the lessons of the past, to formulate the future".
He said he had agreed with Lavrov on establishing two committees tasked with re-evaluating past agreements between Syria and Russia.
"There are many opportunities for a united strong Syria, we hope Russia stands with us on this pathway," Shibani said.
Lavrov thanked Syrian authorities for ensuring the security of two Russian bases in the country, where Moscow continues to maintain a presence, as well as backing the removal of sanctions on Syria.
In May, the Russian foreign minister warned of "ethnic cleansing" of Syrian religious minorities by "radical militant groups".
