Syrian President Bashar Assad touched down in China on Thursday, marking his first voyage to the nation because the onset of Syria’s enduring 12-year battle.
All through this tumultuous interval, Beijing has steadfastly stood by his aspect, solidifying an unparalleled bond.
The Chinese language International Ministry introduced that President Assad had graced their shores to partake within the grand inaugural ceremony of the Asian Video games.
This worldwide sporting extravaganza is ready to kick off within the jap metropolis of Hangzhou and can begin this Saturday.
Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasised that Assad’s momentous go to to the guts of Asia symbolized a need to “additional deepen mutual political belief and cooperation in varied fields between the 2 nations and push bilateral relations to a brand new stage.”
It highlights the enduring camaraderie that has outlined China and Syria’s relations over time, characterised by an unwavering “custom of profound friendship” that has weathered the storm of geopolitical shifts.
The world watched as Bashar Assad and Chinese language President Xi Jinping ready to interact in “in-depth talks” on a myriad of urgent points, promising a pivotal second in worldwide diplomacy.
Assad’s arrival in Hangzhou was heralded by Chinese language state broadcaster CCTV, a second of profound significance for each nations.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (4-R) and his partner Asma al-Assad (2-L) arrive in China, Hangzhou, China, Sept. 21, 2023. (EPA Photograph)
In the meantime, President Xi is poised to make his grand entrance on Friday, full with a luxurious banquet and a sequence of bilateral actions.
Among the many friends attending the Video games from China’s cherished circle of mates are Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Jaber, and Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
China’s rising affect within the Center East has been conspicuous, most notably exemplified by its mediation efforts between regional giants Saudi Arabia and Iran earlier this yr.
China stays a staunch ally of Bashar Assad, even within the face of Syria’s extended and devastating battle, which has claimed the lives of half one million folks and left huge swaths of the nation in ruins.
The potential for China to play a pivotal position in Syria’s journey towards reconstruction looms giant on the horizon.
This colossal endeavor, anticipated to price tens of billions of {dollars}, presents a singular alternative for China to train its prowess.
Syria’s inclusion in China’s Belt and Street Initiative, geared toward increasing Beijing’s affect by way of formidable infrastructure tasks in growing areas, additional underscores the importance of this burgeoning partnership.
Notably, Bashar Assad’s go to to China was prolonged as a private invitation from President Xi, and he arrived with a Syrian delegation in tow.
This gesture of goodwill signifies the depth of their relationship.
Again house, Syria grapples with an escalating socio-economic disaster, triggering protests inside government-controlled territories.
The Bashar Assad regime attributes this financial turmoil to Western sanctions and the presence of U.S.-backed pro-PKK terrorist militias, who maintain sway over the nation’s largest oil reserves within the east, close to the Iraqi border.
Intriguingly, diplomatic channels have seen a surge in exercise because the devastating earthquake that rocked Türkiye and Syria on Feb. 6, claiming the lives of greater than 50,000 folks, together with over 6,000 in Syria.
Assad’s presence on the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia final Could, following Syria’s reinstatement into the 22-member league, marked a big milestone within the nation’s diplomatic reengagement with the Arab world.
For the reason that inception of Syria’s turbulent journey in March 2011, which started as pro-democracy protests and later morphed right into a protracted civil struggle, Iran and Russia have been instrumental in serving to Assad reclaim substantial parts of the nation.
In the meantime, China has wielded its veto energy on the United Nations a complete of eight instances, thwarting resolutions geared toward censuring Assad’s regime, the newest occasion occurring in July 2020.
Assad’s earlier and solely go to to China was in 2004, a pivotal second that occurred only a yr after the U.S.-led invasion of neighboring Iraq and through a interval when Washington exerted appreciable strain on Syria.
The stark distinction between that go to and this historic event underscores the evolving dynamics of worldwide politics and diplomacy.