Syria, China Establish Strategic Partnership
China’s President Xi Jinping and his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, have convened in Hangzhou, China, announcing the establishment of a strategic cooperation agreement between the two nations.
Xi and Assad jointly announced the creation of the China-Syria strategic partnership on Friday.
President Xi conveyed to Assad that the ties between Damascus and Beijing have endured international changes, and this partnership will be a significant milestone in their bilateral relations.
In response to the global instability and uncertainty, President Xi expressed China’s willingness to continue working closely with Syria, offering firm mutual support, fostering friendly cooperation, and jointly upholding international fairness and justice, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.
China’s leadership reiterated its support for Syria in opposing foreign interference, unilateral bullying, and safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Assad expressed hope that their meeting would lay the groundwork for broad and long-term strategic cooperation in various fields, as reported by Syria’s official news.
Assad expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for standing by the Syrian people during their challenges. He emphasized the importance of their meeting in the context of a multi-polar world being formed, which he believes will restore global balance and stability.
This visit marks Assad’s first official visit to China since 2004, coinciding with Syria’s recovery from a foreign-backed conflict that began over a decade ago. Assad will also attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games during his visit.
In May, Syria’s Arab League membership was reinstated after a 12-year suspension, signaling its return to the Arab fold.
The Arab League had suspended Syria’s membership in November 2011, a move that Syria denounced as “illegal and a violation of the organization’s charter” when the country launched a campaign against violent militants infiltrating from various parts of the world. Syria had been one of the Arab League’s six founding members in 1945.
