Maliki is in Damascus at a time when he is under pressure at home
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Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is visiting Syria, his first trip to the country since taking office last year.
Mr Maliki will be meeting the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, during the three-day visit.
Among the issues Mr Maliki is expected to discuss is the plight of Iraqi refugees, almost two million of whom live in Syria.
Two weeks ago, Mr Maliki went to Iran. Both Iran and Syria have been accused by the US of supporting Iraqi militias.
The visit highlights the growing diplomatic ties between the two neighbouring countries.
Relations were only restored between Syria and Iraq last year after a period of almost 25 years.
Rapprochement
For decades, the two countries promoted rival versions of Baathism and Syria sided with Iran in the eight-year Iran-Iraq war.
A rapprochement was sealed in January with the visit of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to Damascus.
Mr Maliki is being accompanied by his ministers of oil, trade, the interior and water resources.
He is scheduled to meet Syrian Vice-President Farouq Shara and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.
The prime minister has faced political problems domestically due to walk-outs staged by a number of political blocs including the main Sunni group.
He is also thought to be under growing pressure from Washington because of the lack of political progress despite the fact that US troops have stepped up operations to quell sectarian violence.