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On September 22, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad jointly announced the establishment of a China-Syria strategic partnership.
Assad arrived in China earlier this week on his first visit to the country since the outbreak of the war in Syria more than 12 years ago.
The Syrian President met with the Chinese leader in the city of Hangzhou in the Zhejiang province, ahead of the opening of the 19th Asian Games scheduled for September 23. Assad is expected to attend the opening ceremony along with more than a dozen foreign dignitaries.
The leaders were each flanked by nine aides at a large rectangular wooden table, footage aired by the Syrian state TV showed, as two flags from each country were set in the meeting room.
Relations between the China and Syria “have withstood the test of international changes”, Xi said during his meeting with Assad.
“China supports Syria in opposing foreign interference, opposing unilateral bullying, safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” the Chinese leader noted.
Xi also stressed that China supports Syria in conducting reconstruction, enhancing counter-terrorism capacity building, and promoting a political settlement of the Syrian issue following the “Syrian-led, Syrian-owned” principle.
China also supports Syria in improving its relations with other Arab countries and playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, he noted.
“China is willing to strengthen Belt and Road cooperation with Syria, increase the import of high-quality agricultural products from Syria, and jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative to make active contributions to regional and global peace and development,” Xi added.
From his side, Assad said that he “thanked the Chinese government for everything you have done to stand alongside the Syrian people in their cause and their trials”, according to a readout from state-run Syrian Arab News Agency.
“This visit is extremely important due to its timing and circumstances because a multipolar world is being formed today which will restore balance and stability to the world,” he said. “I hope that our meeting today will lay the foundations for broad-based and long-term strategic cooperation in all areas.
China maintains relations with Syria during the war. The country, along with Russia, has repeatedly exercised its permanent veto power on the United Nations Security Council to block resolutions imposing sanctions or allowing the use of military power against the Syrian government.
Assad’s visit represents an important step towards returning to the international fold after years of isolation. The visit also comes as China expands its engagement in the Middle East.
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