Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday, September 21, embarked on his inaugural official journey to China in nearly twenty years. Beijing has expressed that this visit will elevate their bilateral relations to a “higher level,” as the Syrian leader endeavors to secure financial assistance for the reconstruction of his war-torn nation.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday began his first official trip to China in almost two decades, with Beijing saying the visit will take ties to a “new level” as the Arab leader seeks financial support to help rebuild his devastated country.
China is one of only a handful of countries outside the Middle East that Assad has visited since the 2011 start of a civil war that has killed more than half a million people, displaced millions more, and battered Syria’s infrastructure and industry.
Assad is the latest in a string of leaders ostracized by the West to be feted by Beijing, with Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi visiting this year, as well as top Russian officials.
He arrived Thursday in the eastern city of Hangzhou, where he will attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games on Saturday.
According to the Syrian presidency, Assad will also travel to Beijing.
The visit is his first to China since 2004.
Beijing has long provided Damascus with diplomatic support, particularly at the UN Security Council where it is a permanent member.
The visit comes as China expands its engagement in the Middle East.
This year Beijing brokered a deal that saw longtime regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Damascus-backer Iran agree to restore ties and reopen their respective embassies.
The detente was followed by Syria’s return to the Arab fold at a summit in Saudi Arabia in May, ending more than a decade of regional isolation.
Analysts expect Assad’s visit to China will focus, in part, on funds for reconstruction.
Syria signed up to China’s vast Belt and Road trade and infrastructure initiative in January 2022.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
