Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Monday pledged solidarity with the Syrian people after a deadly quake that sparked rare Arab outreach, during a rare visit to the country. The trip is the latest example of regional outreach to President Bashar al-Assad’s internationally-isolated government — which was expelled from Cairo-based Arab League after Syria’s conflict erupted in 2011. He is the third Arab foreign minister to meet Assad since the February 6 quake struck Syria and neighbouring Turkey killing more than 46,000 people, after the United Arab Emirates and Jordan sent their top diplomats. Shoukry held talks with Assad and his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekded, and said he conveyed a message of “solidarity and sympathy” on behalf of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi. Cairo was ready to provide more quake relief to the victims of the quake, he told a news conference with Mekdad. Assad thanked Egypt for its “aid to support the Syrian government’s efforts to provide relief to those affected by the earthquake”, a statement from his office said. In the aftermath of the quake, Sisi called his Syrian counterpart, in the first official exchange between the two leaders. Egypt sent three planes and two boats loaded with humanitarian aid to the quake-hit Arab country. Asked by reporters whether Egyptian-Syrian ties would be fully restored, Shoukry said on Monday that the purpose of his visit was “primarily humanitarian”.