French President Emmanuel Macron landed in Syria on Monday, in the first visit to Damascus by a European Union head of state the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in 2024. “I am here to affirm France's commitment to the Syrian people. For a sovereign Syria, united in its diversity and at peace with its neighbors. Together, let's open a new page of stability and peace,” Macron said on X. Macron, who was greeted at Damascus airport by Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, will hold a working dinner with President Ahmed al-Sharaa before further meetings on Tuesday, according to an agenda from the French presidency. For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Syria's reconstruction is set to be one of the key themes of the trip, and Macron will be accompanied by business leaders including the CEOs of TotalEnergies and French container shipping group CMA CGM, a French presidential official told reporters ahead of the visit. Macron will also stress France's commitment to a free, pluralistic Syria that respects all of its communities and meet Syrians from all backgrounds and affiliations, the official added. The French presidential official said that Syria could only be a partner for France if pluralism is fully taken into account, and that it was out of the question for France that one form of exclusive power should simply replace another. Al-Sharaa met Macron during a visit to France last year, his first to a European country since toppling al-Assad. Macron was a leading voice calling for the lifting of Western sanctions, which were largely removed last year.Read more: