He made the statement in a Tuesday meeting with the Chairman of Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh and the accompanying delegation, SANA reported.
The meeting discussed means of enhancing economic relations between the two countries and the need to hold more meetings between the Syrian and Iranian public and private sectors, and create joint investment opportunities.
Khamis appreciated Iran’s role in supporting the Syrian people throughout the years of war waged by foreign-backed insurgents and terrorists, and that it looks forward to further cooperation.
He welcomed the participation of Iranian companies in various fields and for increasing trade exchanges.
Falahatpisheh said Iran will continue to improve economic cooperation with Syria, as the economic sector is a vital aspect of cooperation.
After a separate meeting between Falahatpisheh and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the former noted that the latter had welcomed the role of Iran in the country's economic sphere and said Assad wanted the Iranian parliament’s cooperation to overcome barriers to economic relations.
Referring to the fact that stability in more than 65% of Syrian territory is evident, Falahatpisheh said despite some political and military developments, various countries are engaged in economic activities in stable parts of Syria, which is worth taking into consideration.
"In the meeting with Syrian president, the necessity of considering preferential and incentive privileges for Iranian economic activists was emphasized, in addition to examining challenges facing the economic relations and the business activities of our country in Syria," he said.
"In this meeting, Bashar al-Assad welcomed Iran's central role in the Syrian economy. Of course, he complained about the bureaucracy of the two countries, which slowed down economic relations and demanded the cooperation and interaction of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission to remove barriers.”
Iran's parliamentary delegation, headed by Falahatpisheh, arrived in Damascus on Sunday and met with his counterparts in the Syrian People's Assembly.