Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (C) meets with Omani Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah (L) in Damascus, Syria, on July 7, 2019. (SANA/Handout via Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday met with Omani Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, state news agency SANA reported.

The meeting dealt with the latest regional and international developments and the difficult circumstances the region is passing through.

Assad also discussed with the Omani minister the political and economic challenges in the region and the means to confront them.

Ahead of the meeting, Abdullah met with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moallem.

They discussed bilateral relations between Syria and Oman and means to enhance them to achieve mutual interests, SANA said.

They also agreed on the necessity of the continued coordination and consultation in a way that would help preserving the regional security and stability.

It's worth noting that Oman did not close its embassy during the Syrian crisis.