Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Saudi's King Abdullah on Sunday evening to discuss "bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries," SANA, Syria's state-run news agency, reported.

In the meeting at Riyadh Airport, both sides affirmed that Israel's "Judaization" of the state and its "continuing siege on Gaza" undermines all efforts "to achieve peace and stability in the region."

The two leaders also spoke about the latest developments in Lebanon and Iraq, discussing the need to "bolster the national accord and internal stability" in Lebanon "to resolve all differences and fend off external dangers."

They talked about Iraq's need to form a national unity government that would represent "all spectrums of the Iraqi people...capable of preserving the unity, security and stability of Iraq."

Syria and China

Meanwhile in Damascus on Sunday, a Chinese delegation led by Ma shu-fen, chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, met with Syrian parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Abrash.

Shuf-fen said China sought to strengthen bilateral and diplomatic relations, citing historic ties between the two countries.

Later, she signed an agreement with Damascus Governor Bishr al-Sabban boosting Syrian-Chinese cooperation in trade, economy, technology and culture.

Syria and Turkey

In July, al-Sabban signed an agreement with Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek making Damascus and Ankara sister cities.

Al-Sabban said Syria and Turkey's close relationship should serve as an example to other countries. 

"We decided to announce Ankara and Damascus as sister cities to boost fraternity ties and cooperation opportunities among the people of Turkey and Syria," Gökçek told reporters, according to SANA.