OREANDA-NEWS Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu on Monday and discussed with him the strengthening of bilateral relations, as well as international and regional security, the SANA news agency reported.

"Assad received Shoigu and discussed with him a number of issues of international and national security, as well as bilateral relations between Syria and Russia and prospects for strengthening them in order to serve the interests of both countries," the agency informs.