Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed China's support for Damascus in defending Syria's sovereignty and combating external interference during a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Hangzhou.
"China supports Syria in countering external interference and unilateral intimidation, as well as in defending its national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," Xi Jinping stated, as reported by China Central Television. He expressed Beijing's commitment to assisting Syria in post-war reconstruction and enhancing its capabilities to combat terrorism. Xi also conveyed China's willingness to facilitate the improvement of Syria's relations with other Arab nations and bolster its role in international and regional affairs.
Xi Jinping also emphasized China's readiness to enhance cooperation with Syria in jointly advancing the Belt and Road Initiative. Furthermore, he expressed China's intention to increase imports of high-quality agricultural products from Syria.
President al-Assad is currently on an official visit to the People's Republic of China. During his visit, he will participate in the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Summer Games in Hangzhou on September 23. This marks al-Assad's second visit to China, with his first visit occurring in 2004. Accompanying President Assad on this trip are Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Mohammed Samir Khalil, Minister in the President's Office Mansour Fadlallah Azzam, and political adviserBouthaina Shaaban.
Syria's relations with other Arab states
Following the onset of the Syrian civil war, the majority of Arab nations, unable to secure concessions from Damascus in support of the opposition, recalled their ambassadors and participated in an economic boycott of the Syrian republic. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and several other states provided financial and military assistance to armed groups opposing the Syrian government during the conflict. Recently, several countries, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, have taken steps to reopen their diplomatic missions in Damascus.
On May 19, President al-Assad attended the Arab League summit in Jeddah for the first time since 2010. This came shortly after the Arab League Council decided to reinstate Syria's full membership in the regional organization, which had been suspended in November 2011.
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Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS