Damascus: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shaibani affirmed that the Syria-Denmark relationship has ushered in a new phase of mutual respect. Speaking at a joint press conference in Damascus with his Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Al Shaibani emphasized that Syria views Denmark as an influential partner in both the EU and the international community, noting Denmark's commitment to supporting Syria. According to Qatar News Agency, the discussions were laser-focused on the future of the bilateral relationship, including the restoration of full diplomatic representation, and on the refugee issue, a shared priority as Denmark hosts over 35,000 Syrians, Al Shaibani said. He added that the talks resulted in an agreement to launch a Syrian-Danish business council to follow up on joint investment opportunities and oversee economic ties between the two countries. Al Shaibani also shed light on repeated Israeli assaults on Syria, the latest being the attack on Beit Jinn town in Damascus Governorate, which claimed the lives of 13 civilians and wounded dozens. These assaults constitute a flagrant breach of Syrian sovereignty and international law, threatening regional peace and security, he stressed, calling on the international community, the UN, and the Arab League to adopt a resolute stance to halt this aggression. For his part, Rasmussen affirmed that Denmark supports Syria's recovery and development, highlighting that Denmark provides approximately USD 1 million annually to the Syrian people. He added that this amount is expected to increase as Danish firms have expressed interest in investing in Syria, especially following the anticipated lift of US sanctions.