Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has arrived in Damascus for the first time since 2011, since the start of the conflict in Syria.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, SANA reported.

Safadi conveyed the greetings and condolences of King Abdullah II to the Syrian president and stressed that Jordan, its leadership and its people stand in solidarity with the Syrian people in overcoming the consequences of the catastrophic earthquake. According to the king's orders, the aid will continue.

Moreover, every effort will be made by Jordan to help the Syrians to cope with their ordeal and support the efforts of the Syrian government in this direction, Syrian media reported.

Safadi said the countries of the world should cope with the catastrophe on the basis of humanitarian principles. Necessary aid should be delivered to all areas of the disaster without discrimination and politicization.

For his part, President Assad expressed his appreciation for the official and popular stance of brotherly Jordan, SANA writes. 

The two sides stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation because the close proximity of Syria and Jordan suggests that the two peoples face the same challenges and circumstances, which at the same time opens up opportunities for joint action in many areas for the benefit of the peoples of the two brotherly countries.

Earlier, three planes from Belarus and Jordan landed at Damascus and Aleppo airports with humanitarian aid for earthquake victims.

Anwar Badawi, Jordan's consul in Damascus, said it was the second special flight from his country that brought 12 tons of medical aid. Two days ago, Amman sent two convoys of 14 trucks loaded with food and medical supplies through the Nasib border crossing. The aid will continue in the near future, the consul confirmed.