Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called for efforts to decrease the current tension in the region, the official SANA news agency reported.

The two sides highlighted the importance of cooperation among regional countries to achieve stability and security during a meeting in which they reviewed the situation in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon.

The two sides asserted the need to continue coordination and consultation on regional issues and matters of common interest, SANA said.

They also conferred on bilateral cooperation and friendship, particularly in the economic domain, SANA said, without giving further details.

Erdogan arrived in Damascus earlier in the day for a one-day visit to Syria.

Before his departure in Ankara, Erdogan told reporters that he would discuss with Syrian leaders bilateral relations and ways to further improve existing cooperation.

He said that a free trade agreement will be put into effect as of Jan. 1, 2007, noting that Syria is an important regional country with which Turkey has good neighborly relations.

On Middle East issues, Erdogan said that he would discuss with the Syrian side regional topics and possible contributions of regional countries to peace and stability in the region.

"Together with all neighboring countries, we want to do something and contribute to the situation in not only Lebanon but also in Palestine and Iraq," he stressed.

Source: Xinhua