Russian companies show interest in a number of energy projects in Syria, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said shortly before his visit to the country on May 10-11.
In an article published in Syrian newspaper Al Watan, Medvedev said: "Russian companies work on issues of participating in such promising projects as the construction of oil refineries in the city of Deir ez-Zor, the Zenobia oil pipeline and a central trunk gas pipeline."
The Russian leader said a great amount of work lies ahead the two states for their relations to be taken to a qualitatively new level.
Medvedev is set to discuss with his counterpart Bashar Assad economic, energy and military cooperation as well as international problems.
Russian presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko told journalists that the visit would be the Russian head of state's first one to Syria, whereas Assad has visited Russia three times, the last time being in August 2008.
Bilateral trade in 2005-2008 grew more than fourfold to reach some $2 billion, but went down some 30% in 2009 during the global financial crisis.
Moscow and Damascus have had a good experience of cooperation in the fuel and energy sector.
MOSCOW, May 10 (RIA Novosti)
