Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said President Bashar Assad has informed all officials in Damascus that he wanted Lebanese President Michel Suleiman's visit on Wednesday to be a success.

The visit "is a starting point and a true establishment of future relations" between Beirut and Damascus, Muallem told As Safir daily.

He said Assad has informed all Damascus officials that he wanted to make the summit successful and fruitful.

Suleiman also described his relations with Assad as "brotherly" and "excellent."

He told As Safir that he hoped the Lebanese-Syrian summit would serve the interest of the two country's peoples.