London, March 31 (QNA) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa at the government headquarters in London.

A statement issued by the UK Prime Minister's office indicated that the two sides discussed the situation in the Middle East and emphasized "the importance of avoiding further escalation and restoring stability in the region."

They stressed the need for a viable plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to counter the severe economic impact of its prolonged closure and agreed to work with others to restore freedom of navigation.

The UK Prime Minister welcomed the efforts made by the Syrian government thus far to combat ISIS and the progress achieved in cooperation between the United Kingdom and Syria.

He expressed his hope for further progress on the issue of migration, including close cooperation between the two countries on the return of migrants, border security, and efforts to combat human trafficking networks.

They also agreed on the importance of revitalizing Syria's infrastructure to support its economic transition, and discussed opportunities for British companies in various sectors to play a role in this regard.

The Syrian president arrived earlier Tuesday in London, for an official visit, following the conclusion of his official visit to Germany.(QNA)