The Arab League on Sunday welcomed back Syria's government after a more than decade-long suspension, AFP reported.
The pan-Arab bloc froze Syria's membership in November 2011 over the bloody government crackdown on protesters.
"Government delegations from the Syrian Arab Republic will resume their participation in Arab League meetings" starting Sunday, said a unanimous decision by the group's foreign ministers on Sunday.
The ministers in a statement emphasized their "keenness to launch a leading Arab role in efforts to resolve" the Syria crisis.
They agreed to form a ministerial committee to continue "direct dialogue with the Syrian government in order to reach a comprehensive solution", according to AFP.
Syria's foreign ministry stressed the importance of "Arab cooperation" following the announcement, in a statement carried by state news agency SANA.
"The next stage requires an effective and constructive Arab approach... based on dialogue, mutual respect and common Arab interests", it added.
Regional capitals have gradually been warming to Assad as he has stubbornly held onto power and clawed back lost territory with crucial support from Iran and Russia.
In December of 2018, reports emerged that Gulf nations were moving to readmit Syria into the Arab League and that it could be readmitted some time in 2019.
Three months later, however, the Arab League poured cold water on those reports and said it was not planning to discuss reinstating Syria's membership.
In March, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister said increased engagement with Syria might pave the way for its return to the Arab League, though he stressed it was too early to discuss such a step.